Toyota Corolla Saloon Breaks Cover In China

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The all-new Toyota Corolla saloon was unveiled earlier today in Guangzhou, China. It joins the hatchback and estate to complete the model family.

The Toyota Corolla is perhaps the Japanese carmaker’s biggest runaway hit. Launched in 1966, the Corolla steadily rose in popularity worldwide. At one point of time, a Corolla was being sold every minute around the globe. Toyota kept giving the car timely updates and experimented a lot with the model, creating new body styles, powertrain options, and now even electrification for specific markets.

Now in its 12th generation, the new Toyota Corolla saloon uses the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) modular platform for its underpinnings. The same platform also sits under the new Prius and Camry. The new Corolla will be built at Toyota’s facility in Turkey alongside the C-HR crossover.

The saloon features an all-new front fascia with sharply styled headlamps, a thin upper grille, and protruding front bumper to show off a ‘firmly planted stance’. The rear features redesigned light clusters with LED inserts, and a few chrome garnishes peppered around to execute an upmarket feel. Indeed, Toyota wants “young professionals who want more prestigious styling, space and comfort” to go for this car. The hatchback and estate are aimed at young couples and families respectively.

Inside, the saloon is identical to the hatchback. However, it imitates the estate’s wheelbase at 2,700mm, making for more legroom for passengers on the rear seats. Customers in the UAE hitherto had the choice between a 1.6-litre and a 2.0-litre engine with 121hp and 143hp respectively. The new saloon features a 1.8-litre four-cylinder motor good for 121hp, and a bigger 2.0-litre motor that outputs 178hp. Both of the engines feature hybrid technology, a first for the nameplate.

Pricing and final specifications of the 2019 Toyota Corolla saloon for the UAE are not out yet, but expect to shell out a slight premium over the current-gen Corolla’s AED 73,500 base trim price tag.