11th Generation of one of the world’s best selling cars should arrive in North America later this summer or fall.
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - May 12, 2012
2013 Toyota Corolla “Axio” – Pricing details were not disclosed.
The tenth-generation Corolla was introduced in 2008 as a 2009, 40 years after the first Corolla arrived in the United States and while little was changed from the previous generation, the refresh helped maintain America’s Love for the reliable compact. In late 2011, the best selling compact in America at the time arrived with a refresh including new front and rear exterior styling, new interior changes, Toyota Care complimentary maintenance plan, standard Smart Stop Technology, and new colors.
And like all North American Toyota’s available today, it included Toyota’s much vaunted Star Safety System which included Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and a standard Smart Stop Technology brake-override system.
That was then, this is now
On Friday, Toyota launched an all-new 11th generation Corolla in Japan and while few chances were taken, why should they need to. As a perennial North American compact sales leader, it only needed minor modernizations and that is apparently exactly what Toyota has provided.
Since its debut in 1966, the Corolla has been designed to be dependable, affordable and practical. According to Toyota, the Corolla has now exceeded 39 million in sales globally and it now ranked as the world's best-selling vehicle.
The redesign of the Corolla Axio and Corolla Fielder sought a return to the Corolla's origins. Both vehicles were completely revamped to minimize body size while maintaining the ability to safely and comfortably transport four adults over long distances.
Charting the Changes
Already a compact car with a reasonable abundance of interior volume, Toyota reduced the length of the Corolla Axio by almost 2” while providing an additional 1.6” of leg room somehow?
The Corolla’s turning diameter has been reduced by 1.4 ft. to 32.1 ft. which of course makes it more maneuverable in tight spaces.
Various structural and design improvements including a new more rounded to the sides front windscreen, rear-shifted and narrowed front A-pillars, and door-mounted side mirrors providing a broader field of vision.
Exterior Design
The Corolla did not receive much. In an era where Elantra’s Focus’ and the next generation Sentra are taking chances and its paying off with ever increased sales, the Corolla arrives little changed. That in and of itself is taking a risk.
Interior Design
The center console features switches at naturally-accessible locations and angles, the instrument gauges have highly readable figures and symbols, and the tall, L-shaped door handles are easy to grasp, creating a functional interior that places items in occupants' natural line of vision.
Storage spaces are said to be easily accessible but unfortunately I do nto have a media pic of the interior at this time.
Deck boards and package tray trim are made from natural kenaf, reducing the vehicle's environmental footprint.
Japanese Colors
The Corolla is available in seven body colors including the new Mellow Silver Metallic.
Interior color options for the Corolla feature a choice between beige or a modern gray. The wagon sports all black.
Japanese get 1.3s, 1.5s and 1.8s. We will probably only receive 1.8s
The Corolla is powered by a new, highly efficient 1.3L 1NR-FE engine with dual VVT-I and on the way out there JC08 offers up an unheard of 48.4 mpgUS rating.
An improved 1.5L 1NZ-FE engine provides higher fuel economy thanks to reduced friction and an all new CVT-I which Toyota says substantially improves power while minimizing shift shock. Together the pair provide a 47 mpgUS rating on the JC08 or possibly 28 mpgUS combined on our own 08 EPA?
A Stop/Start System is available with the 1.5L CVT-i models that improves fuel efficiency by just under 2 mpgUS on the truly mythical JC08 test cycle.
An improved 1.8L 2ZR-FAE engine features an enhanced valvematic function that reduces pumping losses and engine-part friction to substantially improve fuel efficiency to 39 mpgUS on the JC08.
A new CVT Sports Mode is available on 1.8L improves responsiveness during acceleration. In addition, a new G AI-Shift uses vehicle G-sensors to detect deceleration and turning force, enabling the AI to automatically downshift when entering a corner and to limit unnecessary up shifting when cornering.
New Amenities
The driver's seat features seat ventilation and heaters (standard on the 1.5L Luxel trim), enabling cool air flow from the seat and back on warm days, and heating for the driver's shoulders, back and legs on cold days.
Also standard on the 1.5L Luxel is a new feature that enables automatic mirror stowage and deployment in tandem with door locking and unlocking, thereby eliminating the need for switch operation when entering or exiting the vehicle. Asia is a hot bed for mirror folding and we may even see a Corolla with it here someday as the Kia Rio already has it available on upper level trims.
In addition, a new reverse-link function gives the driver the ability to see objects such as parking space lines by automatically angling the mirrors towards the rear tires when the vehicle is in reverse. I have this in the MDX and personally I think it kind of sucks as you lose your dept when the mirrors angle downward.
A/C arrives with a new nano-ionizer and a new climate function that eliminates pollen from the passenger space with the touch of a button is also standard. I believe this feature is already in the v and all-new Lexus GS as well.
An interior light cut-off system is standard on all models to turn off interior lights if they are left on for 20 minutes after parking.
Safety
While the current US based 2012 Corolla earned an IIHS top Safety Pick, it scored just 4 stars on the tougher NHTSA crash test rating system falling behind the class leading Cruze and Elantra.
For 2013, the redesigned Corollas feature an omni-directional compatibility body structure that minimizes body deformation even in collisions with larger vehicles, and new pedestrian-injury-reducing features such as impact-absorbing hoods and bumpers that serve to minimize injuries afflicted on pedestrians in the event of a collision.
The use of three-point seat belts with pre-tensioners and force limiters (front seats and left and right rear seats), Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) concept seats, and six airbags have earned the redesigned Corolla a five-star rating on the Japan New Car Assessment Program (Japan-NCAP).
A new High Intensity Discharge lamp (HID) View Assist Package is available on some upper level trims and improve nighttime visibility and reduce driver interference.
The new available lighting system features include:
- Automatic high beams with camera sensor detect bright light during night-driving, automatically switching from high beams to low beams to ensure front visibility.
- Automatic anti-glare rearview mirror with embedded sensor detects light from behind and adjusts mirror reflectivity accordingly to help maintain driver visibility.
- Projector-type discharge headlights (with low-beam auto-leveling function) offer twice the illumination of standard halogen lights to improve nighttime visibility.
The redesigned "Corolla Axio" sedan and '"Corolla Fielder" station wagon are being sold through Japanese dealerships nationwide.
Early Conclusions
In the hotly contested C-Segment, other manufacturers are providing not only reliability and fuel economy that easily surpasses the Corolla but something else is being provided. That being modern and unique styling. The all new Corolla seems to miss that last attribute and it will be interesting to see its consumer acceptance after the US release if this is what we will receive?
Any bets on our redesign?
Hybrid Mode
