Done with the launch of their B-segment car the Vios, UMW Toyota will now focus on the introduction of their C-segment contender, the Corolla Altis. The current Corolla Altis on sale has been removed from the Toyota Malaysia website, and replaces with an outline of a car with the text 'coming soon'.
The new generation Toyota Corolla was first unveiled in June 2013. There were two different Toyota Corollas unveiled simultaneously - one is the North American model and another is what at that time Toyota called an 'Euro' model, which has gone into production at a Toyota plant in Istanbul, Turkey.
Left: Global Corolla, Right: US Corolla
None of the ASEAN countries have received the Corolla yet so we don't 100% know for sure which car we'll get, but we strongly believe the ASEAN region will get the 'Euro' car, as its design suit the positioning of the car in this market better than the US market car.
The new Toyota Corolla is longer and wider than the current generation car, and it has a full 100mm longer wheelbase, which should translate into greater interior space. Measuring 2,700mm, the new Corolla has one of the longest wheelbase lengths in its class, matched by the new Sylphy and the Elantra/Cerato.
In Turkey, the Corolla is available with 3 different engines - a 1.33 litre Dual VVT-i making 99hp and 128Nm of torque, a 1.6 litre Valvematic making 132hp and 160Nm of torque, or a 1.4 litre D-4D diesel making 90hp and 205Nm of torque.
Engines available in other markets include a 122hp 1.6 Dual VVT-i, a 132hp 1.8 Dual VVT-i and a 140hp 1.8 Valvematic. The new Corolla is available with various transmissions - manual boxes, stepped automatics as well as CVT. In Malaysia, our current Corolla line-up uses CVT on all models save for the basic 1.6 litre which uses a 4-speed auto.
Curiously, from the images that we've seen so far, the 'Euro' Altis makes do with reflector headlamps although they can be powered by xenon and have integrated LED daytime running lights.
Seems like a step down from the B-segment Vios which at least has the option for projector headlamps. The saving grace is built in DRL means UMW Toyota doesn't have to resort to aftermarket looking DRL positioned low on their 'stick on' bodykit bumper bits.
The new larger interior is also new, with minor differences between the US market car and the 'Euro' car. Differences that we've observed include the digital clock position which has been moved to the right from dead centre, and some other minor differences in trim and the dial face design.
Since UMW Toyota has already found it necessary to tease the car, it could mean the new car is coming very soon. Could we be looking at a January 2014 launch just in time to capture the Chinese New Year sales period? It does seem a little fast, considering the car hasn't been introduced in any other ASEAN country so far.
Toyota Corolla Altis deserves us to buy.
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