Toyota has taken the wraps off the newest generation of world’s most successful sedan, the Corolla. The TNGA based 12th generation Toyota Corolla made its simultaneous debut today at the Guangzhou Auto Show in China, as well as Carmel, California in USA.
The Chinese Market Corolla
Toyota operates two joint ventures in China, GAC Toyota and FAW Toyota, each having their own version of the Corolla. GAC Toyota’s version is called as Levin, whereas FAW Toyota’s version is simply called the Corolla.
The Levin’s fascia is similar in style, to the Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports wagon that were revealed earlier this year. It’s made up of slim headlamps with long vertical fangs at the sides, and a huge lower grille with honeycomb mesh and fog lamps at the lower ends. The Levin’s grille also loses out on the V-shape trim surrounding the Toyota logo.
The Chinese-market Corolla (FAW-Toyota) is less overtly sporty than the Levin, and it takes more of a mini-Camry look – however it looks quite aggressive. The headlamps are completely different from that of Levin’s, they are shorter but cut sharper, and there is an interplay with the chrome “wings” of the Toyota logo, which travels deep into the clusters.
Related: Why The Next Generation Toyota Corolla Will Be Better Than Ever
While the mouth is also huge, the extra room between the upper and lower grilles is apparent. Unique to the Corolla are vertical vent-like strips at the extreme ends of the face, which also double up as “holders” for the fog lamps. There’s chrome trim here to match the above-mentioned wings, and the lower grille is filled with horizontal slats in dark chrome.
A defining sign at the rear end is the bridge between the tail lamp clusters. On the Levin, the gloss black trim connects the top of the lights, while on the Corolla, it’s a chrome garnish. The Levin gets a big gloss black area on the lower bumper, punctuated by a body-colored strip. The Corolla gets a simpler bumper design with embedded fog lamps.
The US Market Corolla
The US-market Corolla is quite different. While the headlamps with those distinctive triple curve LED daytime running lights are there just like the hatchback, the slim grille that bridges the eyes does not have the Toyota logo there. Instead, the emblem sits above the grille on a body-colored island. Without the T-badge, the slim grille becomes visually separated from the lower grille.
Related: New Toyota Corolla Debuts With Two Flavors at Paris Motor Show
The bumper is also unique to the sportiest US-market Corolla. While the hatchback and Levin have fog lamps within the “mouth”, the US sedan sports side air-intake style extensions, and they house horizontal LED fog lamp strips. There is a full-length body-colored chin spoiler as well.
At the back, the 12th-gen Corolla features a slim boot-lid spoiler and a large black honeycomb section on the bumper. Within the bumper, there’s a body-colored “diffuser” with four fins to match those on the front chin. It’s also the only sedan variation with exposed exhaust tips – there are two on either side.
The Interior & Engine
The interior remains identical to what we have seen in the Corolla hatchback and its Touring Sports version. Furthermore, both the US and China-spec variants carry the same interior.
Related: Toyota Corolla Touring Sports Revealed Ahead of Paris Motor Show Debut
Powering the 2020 Toyota Corolla sedan is an all-new 180 hp 2.0-liter petrol-electric full-hybrid powertrain, the same unit that is available in the hatchback and estate versions. However powertrains may vary as per the region the Corolla is sold. In the US spec version, customers will have the option to go for an upgraded version of the old model’s 1.8-liter petrol engine and an all-new 2.0-liter Dynamic Force petrol engine.
As far as the dimensions are concerned, the 12th gen Toyota Corolla sedan measures 4,640 mm in length, 1,780 mm in width and 1,435 mm in height. Compared to the outgoing model, it is 10 mm longer, 5 mm wider and 45 mm lower. The 2,700 mm wheelbase remains unchanged though.
The 12th generation Toyota Corolla sedan will go on sale internationally by March 2019. The Japanese domestic market will get the all-new sedan and estate based on the Sporty variant, within the same year.
Related: 2019 Toyota Corolla Gets 5 Star ANCAP Crash Test Rating
And there you have it, there are three different looks of the all-new 12th generation Toyota Corolla sedan. Which one do you think will reach our part of the world? Let us know with the comments.
China-Spec Toyota Corolla/ Levin
US-Spec Toyota Corolla
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
