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2014 Toyota Corolla 
The Toyota Corolla hasn’t been a model to get excited about since it migrated from the econo-performance rear-wheel-drive model into the front-wheel-drive pure-economy car. Granted, the S model has always added a little flair and it performs respectably for its class, but still, it’s not the type of model that we stand up and take notice of. However, it is still year in and year out one of the most reliable cars on the roads and one of the best-selling models in its class. Well, with five years passing since its last redesign and three years since its last refresh in 2011, it looks as if a new-generation Corolla is set to debut on June 6, 2013, thanks to the teaser image that Toyota posted on its Facebook wall with the text “Prepare to meet the NEW 2014 Corolla. Get excited for June 6, really excited…” to go along with it. There is no auto show scheduled for June 6th, so we can only assume that the Corolla will launch with far less fanfare than the 2013 Avalon did – thankfully. The teaser image doesn’t show too much, but it does confirm that the S model will continue into the next generation and that all-new taillights are part of the redesign package. These taillights are very similar to the 2013 Corolla Furia Concept, so we expect to see a lot of the Corolla’s design coming from this design exercise. If it carries some of the aggressiveness that the Furia did, we definitely hope the `Yota puts a little something extra under the hood, but we really doubt we will see anything more than a 130-horsepower, or so, four-cylinder engine. Stay tuned for more. Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Corolla Full story
2013 Toyota Corolla LE and S Special Edition
Toyota is expanding its Corolla lineup with the addition of two new special editions based on the LE and S trim levels. The new Toyota Corolla LE and S Special Edition will be limited to 7,500 units (2,250 LE models and 5,250 S models) and will be priced at $20,550. The model will be available starting April. The LE Special Edition will be offered with a unique Black Currant Metallic exterior color and will sit on 16-inch alloy wheels. For the interior, the model will add heated, Beige-leather-trimmed seats, and Display Audio with Navigation and Entune. "Special Edition" floor mats and exterior badges will remind you are driving a Corolla that’s just about as special as they come from the factory. For the S version, Toyota will include a unique Hot Lava paint and 17-inch alloy wheels. The model will also come standard with sport fabric seats and Display Audio with Navigation and Entune™. Just like with the LE version, the new S Special Edition gets "Special Edition" floor mats and exterior badges. Click past the jump to read Toyota’s full press release.
2013 Toyota CorollaThe Corolla quietly makes its way into its 45th year of production as we enter the 2013 model year. Toyota, not one to mess with success, chose to let the Corolla’s 45th anniversary pass with no fanfare. In fact, the 2013 model year pretty much carries all of the same trimmings from the 2012 model year, save for a few minor changes. The Corolla can carry on unchanged and not lose any steam because it is only two model years removed from a slight refresh and that it has a very specific role: draw in young buyers with a low price and high quality. It is not in Toyota’s lineup to dazzle anyone out of $30K. It is happy providing basic amenities at sub-$17K prices. The goal in this is to get buyers impressed with the entry-level `Yota sedan and that should eventually lead to these buyers snagging up a top-line Avalon – so theory says. The 2013 Toyota Corolla comes in three trim levels: L, LE and S. With each level comes a little more luxury and the S model actually makes the Corolla fairly bearable for even picky buyers. Click past the jump to read our full review on the 2013 Toyota Corolla Full story
2014 Toyota Corolla Tourer
The Toyota Corolla is currently in its eleventh generation, but a wagon version hasn’t been offered since 2005 when Toyota decided to axe it. However, more and more customers have been asking for wagon models in the past few years, so the Japanese company has decided to bring the Corolla Tourer back onto the market. The model will be making its official debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show and will be put on sale in early 2014. The all new Corolla Tourer (known as the Auris in Europe) has been caught by our spy photographers during hot weather testing in Southern Europe. As you can see, the model is heavily camouflaged meaning that its exterior design will be significantly improved when compared to the current generation. A few changes will also be made under the hood, but American customers will still enjoy the same 1.8-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine, which produces 132 HP, found in the sedan version. Next Impreza To Be Based off the Toyota Corolla
Akio Toyoda, President of Subaru’s parent company, Toyota, has announced that the next Subaru Impreza would be based on the venerable Toyota Corolla. In a statement to select members of the press, Toyoda was quoted as saying, “We [at Toyota] are always looking to consolidate redundant parts of our lineup so we can pass our cost savings on to our customers. Because of this, we are pleased to announce that the next generation of the Subaru Impreza will be based on our Toyota Corolla, which is the best selling car in the world.” While Toyoda declined to discuss a timeline for the changes, he did mention that Subaru’s signature boxer engines and symmetrical all wheel drive would not be carried over to the new Impreza because of, “[the] inefficient nature of the design.” He declined to comment further. Toyoda did however make great note of his excitement over the Impreza’s changes, “Combining Corolla and Impreza designs makes perfect sense. They share the same area on the marketplace and while the Impreza is unique, it was never a class leader. Nevertheless, [the Impreza] will now have the same DNA inside that helped [Toyota] sell over 40 million Corollas.” A Toyota insider later broke down the changes for us. The new Subaru Impreza will share very little with the Impreza concept that was shown at last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. Instead the new Impreza will receive a face lift to look more similar to its Corolla cousin. Our insider also told us that under the hood, the new Impreza would get the Corolla’s 1.8L 4-cylinder engine driving the front wheels. Lastly and most unfortunately of all, our insider told us that Toyoda will relegate the WRX and WRX STI nameplates to being no more than sporty trim packages with, “Very little, if any,” more power added. UPDATE 04/01/2011: Sorry to pull one over on you guys, but April Fool’s!!! This is all complete fallacy! Need for Speed: SHIFT 2 Unleashed Autolog Challenge as played by Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Matt PowersIf you needed any more reason to sweat out the wait for the new Need for Speed SHIFT 2 Unleashed video game, this trailer should drive up the anxiety levels a few notches higher. The latest in a long line of trailers, this particular one features the game’s Autolog Drift Challenge being played by two of today’s most popular drifters, 2010 Formula Drift champion Vaughn Gittin Jr and Team Need for Speed’s own, Matt Powers. Powers took to the controls first, customizing a Toyota Corolla to suit his whims. Despite all the tinkering, Powers’ performance was anything but stellar and not up to what he’s capable of in the real world, racking up a pretty pedestrian score of 324. To Power’s good fortune, Gittin. Jr. didn’t fare a whole lot better despite using his usual Ford Shelby GT500. In the end, the champ’s 337 score was enough to drift past Powers’ best efforts. Do you think you have what it takes to post higher scores than our seasoned pros? Scoop up a copy of Need for Speed: SHIFT 2 Unleashed when it drops in stores on March 29th, 2011 and find out. 2011 Toyota Corolla
Toyota will unveil the 2011 Corolla at the Los Angeles Auto Show. This new model gets new front and rear exterior styling, new interior design changes, Toyota Care complimentary maintenance plan, standard Smart Stop Technology, and two new colors. The 2011 Corolla will go on sale in December. For the exterior Toyota has added a redesigned front bumper, radiator grille, front lower grille, headlamps, trunk lid, rear license garnish, rear combination lamp, rear bumper, and reflex reflector. The S model gets a new front spoiler, rocker moldings, and upper and lower rear spoilers. The interior gets a new instrument panel, a newly designed steering wheel and new seat color and pattern. For 2011 the model is offered in three trim versions: Corolla, LE, and S, all powered by a 1.8-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine, which produces 132 hp at 6,000 rpm and 128 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. The engine can be coupled to either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic Electronically Controlled Transmission (ECT). Press release after the jump. Full story Toyota to recall 1.13 million Corollas and Matrix over electronic problems
Just when you thought that Toyota was finally turning the corner after all its recall woes this year, here comes news that the manufacturer is once again issuing a (voluntary) safety recall involving approximately 1.13 million units of 2005-2008 Toyota Corolla and Toyota Matrix vehicles. According to Toyota, the recall is being issued in the US in large part because of a potential defect in the cars’ Engine Control Modules (ECM). According to Toyota: “On vehicles equipped with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive, there is a possibility that a crack may develop at certain solder points or on the electronic component used to protect circuits against excessive voltage (varistor), on the ECM’s circuit board. In most cases, if a crack occurs at certain solder points or on certain varistors, the check engine may illuminate, harsh shifting could result, or the engine may not start. In limited instances, if cracking occurs on particular solder points or varistors, the engine could stop while the vehicle is being driven.” Continued after the jump Full story 2010 Toyota Corolla
Toyota Europe has come with a few changes for the 2010 Corolla. Set to go on sale in May, the 2010 Corolla will get a new exterior design, enhanced perceived interior quality, advanced technology, and Toyota Optimal Drive for all the engines. Starting with the exterior, the 2010 Corolla will feature a redesigned bumper, radiator grille and lower grille, new headlamps, revised license plate garnish, combination lamps, bumper, and low-level reflectors have been incorporated. The car sits on a new, sportier 16” wheel cap and alloy wheel design. On the interior, Toyota added a new, flat bottomed steering wheel, finished in leather on higher grade models, featuring a thicker, more comfortable grip cross-section, the instrument panel and door handle trim are now finished in a more sophisticated, high-brightness silver coating. The same high quality finish is also available on the centre console and door switch surrounds. The engine line-up will include a choice of 1.33 litre Dual VVT-i and 1.6 litre Valvematic petrol engines, and 1.4 and 2.0 litre D-4D diesel units, all of them getting Toyota Optimal Drive. Press release after the jump. Full story First ever Apple iPad car install We knew it was going to happen; we just didn’t realize it would happen so soon. With the launch of the new Apple iPad, Soundman Auto has decided to be the first to install one in their car. This video shows the first chapter in a series of videos that will follow the installation of the Apple iPad in a Toyota Corolla owned by Doug Bernards. The install will involve a McIntosh 6 channel amplifier MCC406M, and a special iPod dock which allows the digital signal to be pulled from the iPad and distributed to the Audison BitOne processor via optical output. We don’t exactly know how safe this will be considering the mounting numbers of car accidents due to electronic distraction. According to the National Safety Council, twenty-eight percent of traffic accidents occur when people talk on cell phones or send text messages while driving. We have to wonder how much this percentage will increase if people start installing iPads into their vehicles. Don’t get us wrong, it’s cool to see what these car fanatics will do next, but we just don’t think installing an iPad in a car is very smart especially if you will be installing it in a Corolla. A Corolla…really? Anyway, check out the video. These guys can do some nice, clean work. We definitely have to give credit where credit is due on that aspect. Follow the jump to watch the video. Full story | Toyota Corolla latest reviews:Find us on Facebook | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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