Toyota Corolla
- See also Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno
Toyota Corolla | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Toyota |
| Production: | 1960s – to date |
| Class: | Sedan Performance |
| Body Styles: | 3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon 5-door minivan 2-door coupé |
| Similar models: | Mazda 323 Honda Civic Nissan Almera Mitsubishi Lancer Ford Focus GM Astra VW Golf |
| This article is part of the automobile series. | |
The Toyota Corolla is a small family car produced by Toyota of Japan. It is one of the best selling cars in the world, and is known worldwide for its reliability, but also its conventional engineering. Corollas are manufactured in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, India, South Africa, Brazil, Turkey and Thailand, as well as being assembled in other countries around the world.
A slightly upmarket version is called the Toyota Sprinter, sold in the Japanese home market. It was replaced in 2001 by the Toyota Allex. Over the years, there have been rebadged versions of the Corolla, including the 1980s’ Holden Nova of Australia, and the Sprinter-based Chevrolet Nova, Geo Prizm and Chevrolet Prizm of the United States. In Australia, the Corolla hatchback coupé was at one point badged the T-18.
1966
The Corolla was launched in Japan in 1966. Toyota has been almost steadfast in facelifting each generation after two years, and replacing it with an all-new model every four years. Importation to the United States began in 1968 at about US$1,700, and the car has been popular since.
The initial car was small, with a 90 in wheelbase, and came in 2-door coupe and station wagon and 4-door sedan versions. Power came from a 1.1 L OHV I4 which produced 60 hp. A 4-speed manual transmission was mandatory, and the car used rear wheel drive. The suspension in front was MacPherson struts, with leaf springs connected to a solid axle in back.
1970
The second-generation model, launched 1970, had "coke-bottle" styling. It had a longer 91.9 in wheelbase and a new 1.2 L I4 which made 73 hp. The suspension remained the same, but tweaks improved ride and handling, and the Corolla became the second-best selling car in the world that year.
A 1.6 L, 102 hp engine came in 1971, quite impressive for the time, and a sporty SR5 was introduced in 1973.
1974
The third-generation Toyota Corolla (1974–81), or the Corolla 30, marked Toyota's greatest growth in the United States in the wake of the fuel crisis. In addition to the Sprinter, there was a rebodied version built by Toyota affiliate Daihatsu, called the Daihatsu Charmant.
A 2-door sedan still used the 1.2 L engine, while the 4-door sedan, 2-door hardtop, SR5, and station wagon all used the stronger 1.6 L engine. A 3-speed automatic transmission was added as well. A 3-door "liftback" was added in 1976, along with a sporty-looking "sport coupe" body style.
1979
The fourth-generation model released in 1979 was a boxy, rear-wheel-drive range. Although most of the fourth generation was replaced by 1984, the station wagon and van versions soldiered on into 1987. Equally, there was a Daihatsu Charmant variant.
This generation (apart from the wagon) got a new rear coil spring independent suspension, and the wheelbase was longer at 94.5 in. A new 1.8 L engine was added, producing 75 hp. 1983 introduced the Corolla's first overhead cam engine, a 1.6 L.
1984
The fifth generation is generally regarded as the finest Corolla when measured against its contemporaries. This model, from 1984, moved the Corolla sedan into front wheel drive, but the coupe, "liftback", and wagon continued on the older rear wheel drive platform. The wheelbase was now 95.6 in.
It was the first Corolla to top the New Zealand top-10 lists, ending Ford's dominance of that market. A short hatchback range, called the Corolla FX in Japan and the Corolla Compact in Germany, arrived in 1984. Although there was a five-door liftback model of the basic Corolla, the FX-based hatchback was sold alongside it. The liftback was sold with the Corolla Seca name in Australia and the nameplate survived on successive five-door models.
A hot DOHC 16-valve engine, designated 4A-GE, was added in 1984 on the rear-drive cars. It was a 1.6 L I4 and produced an impressive 124 hp, turning the Corolla GT-S into a popular sports car. This engine was combined with the front-drive transaxle to power the mid-engined Toyota MR-2.
A new Corolla FX, built at the US NUMMI plant, appeared in 1987. It was available with either SOHC or DOHC engines, the latter marketed as the FX-16.
US-market engines:
1988
All Corollas were front-drive for 1988, with production beginning in May 1987. The Geo Prizm shared a slightly different body with the Japan-market Sprinter. The all wheel drive Sprinter Carib wagon used a solid axle rear suspension with coil springs, while the rest used struts all around. It was sold from 1988 to 1994 and had different bodywork to other Corollas. It was called the All-Trac in the US and sold with the Tercel or Corolla name in some countries.
The sixth-generation five-door hatchback is still made in South Africa as an entry-level model called the Toyota Tazz. The three-door is sold as a panel van model there, called the Toyota Carri. These generations were also favoured by tuners.
American production of the sedan took place at NUMMI and Cambridge, Ontario.
US-market engines:
- 4A-FE - 1.6 L I4, 16-valve DOHC, FI, 100 hp All-Trac
- 4A-GE - 1.6 L I4, 16-valve DOHC, FI, 115 hp GT-s
1991 (1993 for the North American Market)
The next Corolla was larger, heavier, and more expensive. With its 246·5 cm wheelbase, it had moved into the compact size class once occupied by the Camry.
It was available as a three-, four- and five-door sedan and a five-door station wagon. Sprinters were available as a four- or five-door sedan. The Corolla Levin and Sprinter Trueno were sold as two-door coupés. The US-market Geo Prizm was sold as a four-door sedan.
US-market engines:
- 1.6 L 4A-FE - 1.6 L I4, 16-valve DOHC, FI, 105 hp
- 1.8 L 7A-FE - 1.8 L I4, 16-valve DOHC, FI, 115 hp DX and LE
1995
The eighth generation, which shared its platform (and doors, on some models) with its predecessor, was introduced in May 1995.
This marked the beginning of the end of the Sprinter. Formerly with its own bodyshell, the eighth generation shared its body panels with the basic Corolla. A European range had different front and rear ends (this was sold in Australia and New Zealand, too). In 1997, the Corolla Spacio was introduced as a two-box minivan version and sold as the Corolla Verso in Europe and the Toyota Verso in New Zealand.
All North American Corollas were now built in California (by NUMMI) or Canada (by TMMC). A new all-aluminum engine powered all Corollas, making every car lighter than its predecessor. In the US market, only sedans were offered. VVT-i variable valve timing was added to the engine for 2000.
US-market engines - 1ZZ-FE:
2000
The ninth-generation Corolla appeared in August 2000 with edgier styling and a longer 102.4 in wheelbase. It was now even larger than the Camry of the 1980s. The torsion bar suspension and drum brakes in the rear are anachronisms, however. The sporty XRS model, introduced for 2005, features the high-revving 170 hp/127 ft.lbf 2ZZ-FE engine from the Toyota Celica GT-S.
The station wagon model is called the Toyota Corolla Fielder in Japan, and the five-door the Toyota Corolla Runx, launching in 2001. It is built on a shortened Toyota Vista platform—the Vista being a mid-sized, rather than compact, car.
The Corolla Spacio (Verso in Europe) moved on to the new platform. The Corolla has also spawned another multi-purpose vehicle, the Matrix, sold in the United States, and forms the basis of the Pontiac Vibe. The Vibe, in turn, is sold with a different grille in Japan and is called the Toyota Voltz.
For 2008, Toyota will create a hybrid gasoline–electric Corolla.
US-market engines:
- 2000-present: 1ZZ-FE - 1.8 L I4, 16-valve DOHC, FI, VVT-i, 130 hp
- 2005 2ZZ-GE - 1.8 L I4, 16-valve DOHC, FI, VVTL-i, 170 hp XRS