Toyota Corolla To Adopt Bold New Look for Next Generation Model
Toyota has offered a striking of vision of what to expect from the next generation Toyota Corolla after the unveiling of a bold new concept car.
Knowingly titled as the Toyota Corolla Concept, the prototype – revealed at the Japan Mobility Show – is therefore a clear indication of how the thirteenth-generation of the ‘world’s best-selling car’ will look when it hits the road in 2026.
While the concept revealed in Japan is based around a saloon body style, it will be reimagined as a hatchback and estate for sale in the UK, where the current model remains a perennially popular taxi choice.
Though it remains to be seen exactly how many of the concept’s more striking design traits – such as the huge windscreen that starts above the driver’s seat and plunges deep into the bonnet – it will retain, Toyota bosses have hinted that this is more than just a design exercise.
Currently in its twelfth generation, the Toyota Corolla has amassed more than 60 million sales globally since 1966, in part because it is adapted for different markets. As such, the Corolla that can be bought in Europe differs to the one available in the Middle East and the United States.
In the UK, the Toyota Corolla has earned favour from taxi drivers for its spacious interior, high-quality interior and durable mechanicals.
They are features that are unlikely to be sacrificed for the next generation Corolla, but it is set to be wrapped in a more distinctive design.
That unusual windscreen layout is one such feature that is expected to be adapted for production with a view to increasing the feeling of light and space inside, as well as improve aerodynamic efficiency.
Under the skin, the new Corolla gets a brand-new platform that has been designed to accommodate a variety of powertrain options.
While Toyota won’t abandon the popular self-charging Hybrid option for this model – a frugal feature that has proven particularly popular with taxi drivers – there will also be plug-in hybrid and pure electric power for the first time.
Moreover, Toyota has hinted that it will use the Corolla to try and popularise fuel cell hydrogen power.
Hydrogen power emits only water vapour to achieve zero emissions, while – unlike electric – is takes just a couple of minutes to fill a tank. However, there are only a handful of hydrogen refilling stations located in Europe, limiting its appeal.