New Corolla Abounds in "New Century Value"

Tokyo―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) unveiled today two fully redesigned stalwarts of its all-time best-selling Corolla lineup―the new Corolla and Corolla Fielder^* These ninth-generation Corollas, envisioned as carrying on the banner of a car cherished throughout the world for its economy and reliability, are based on TMC's New Century Value (NCV) concept, which defines vehicle values for the 21 st century.

The Corolla's features have always anticipated the demands of the times, making the Corolla one of the leading passenger car models of the 20th century. It has been sold in more than 140 countries and, in Japan, has been the most-often purchased passenger car model for 31 years in a row (1969-1999).

The new Corolla models boast refined functionality (the key measure of basic vehicle value) for meeting the needs of today's society, including higher safety and environmental standards. New levels of performance and quality promise satisfaction―with every type of driver in mind―in terms of comfort, styling and riding enjoyment.

The new Corollas' major components―platform, engine, transmission, suspension and 4WD system―have been redesigned and laid out in a body that is more compact, thus more harmonious with society. But the new models, with attractive, flowing styling, still offer a roomy interior that rivals the cabin space of medium-size vehicles. The end result is a level of quality normally not found in vehicles of this class.

The new and still-affordable Corolla and Corolla Fielder, whose packaging, styling, basic performance and quality all set standards for the 21st century, are now available at Toyota Corolla dealers nationwide.

How the new Corolla represents the epitome of the New Century Value concept

GROUNDBREAKING PRESENTATION―An overall taller vehicle height, made aesthetically pleasing by timeless and flowing styling, gives the Corolla (Corolla and Corolla Fielder) interior space that rivals that found in larger, medium-size vehicles. Also, the new Corolla's high level of quality sets it apart in its class.

The long wheel base, easy-access high sitting position and ample interior height of the new Corolla enable an abundance of head, shoulder and leg space that rivals medium-size vehicles. This spacious interior has been achieved along with beautiful exterior styling that reaches beyond its class.

While the cabin is roomy and the luggage space is large enough for four full golf bags, the front and rear overhangs have been reduced as much as possible, enabling outstanding cornering and a minimum turning radius of just 4.9 meters (in the G and X grade 2WD).

The advanced package with a long wheel base and large cabin, the hood's distinctive shape and NCV symbol motif (except on the "Assister package"), and grip-type door handles give the exterior more character, and result in a timeless, high-quality design.

The sedan has been given sturdier front/rear pillars, and thicker, more generous door cross-sections, for a more blocky look. The front/rear pillars have been stretched farther apart at their bases, to create a three-box style and call attention away from the vehicle's height.

The station wagon features rear quarter pillars, with long roof and belt lines, creating a flowing profile with superior utility space.

Finished in a two-tone (top and bottom) color scheme, the instrument panel curves gradually to connect to the door trim, creating a feeling of space with its gracefully molded shape. It is complemented by a wide center console.

The high-quality seat-trim covering and wood grain/metallic panels create a luxurious, sporty look.

Lower tolerances have been set for gaps between parts, and surface uniformity has been increased. Careful attention has been paid to the operational feel of the controls, creating a level of quality rivaling luxury medium-size vehicles.

On the outside, tolerances for gaps between the hood, grille, bumpers and body panels have been halved.

Inside, gaps between instrument panel and audio components and air conditioning vents have been reduced as much as possible. Heater control panel switches and air vents have been made easier to use and air-cushioned restraints have been added to the glove compartment opening/closing mechanism for a more elegant, yet firm, feel.

Some grades offer either high-quality, high-visibility optitron meters or silhouette meters with illuminated readouts and characters and needles displayed as silhouettes during night driving.

A highly visible panel for navigation, audio and heater controls has been placed at the top center of the instrument panel. The size, shape and color of the characters in the meters and controls have been carefully designed for maximum visibility and operational ease.

Some grades come with a newly developed deodorizing filter and an air filter that removes pollen and other impurities.

The station wagon's rear seat backs, with a new reclining mechanism, and the rear seat cushions can be folded or erected separately, allowing for flexible, load-matching configurations. Its front passenger seat back can be folded forward and flat for use as a table.

HIGH-QUALITY DRIVING PERFORMANCE―The Corolla's gasoline engine lineup has been redesigned to incorporate VVT-i, enabling optimum control of intake valve timing to match engine speed and load. Also, all the major components―platform, transmission, suspension, power steering and 4WD system―have been recreated for high-quality driving performance.

Improved combustion, made possible by features such as VVT-i, a diagonal squish combustion chamber and a high compression ratio (10.0), and reduced friction loss make the engine easy to handle at low and medium speeds and provide responsive acceleration. More compact structural components, such as an aluminum block and oil pump, make the engine compact and lightweight, helping give it extremely low fuel consumption.

In addition to the engine's continuously variable intake valve timing, VVTL-i technology controls the amount of lift of the intake and exhaust valves. The engine has a higher-rigidity aluminum block, shorter stroke, larger diameter valves and a higher compression ratio (11.5) than the 1ZZ-FE engine, for the higher engine speeds and power required of a sports station wagon.

VVT-i, an offset crank, and long port intake manifolds enable low fuel consumption and maximum torque at commonly used engine speeds. The use of an aluminum block and resin and stainless steel intake/exhaust components makes both engines the lightest in their class, contributing to low fuel consumption.

All automatic models have the compact, lightweight Super ECT transmission, with a high-efficiency Super Flow Torque Converter, for smooth and responsive shifting. Models with 1.8-liter engines have a gate-type shift lever, for more natural shifting.

The Z AEROTOURER model is designed for more sporty driving performance. The automatic version comes with the Sports Steer Shiftmatic feature, which allows drivers to shift without removing their hands from the steering wheel. The 6-speed manual version offers lively, precise driving performance.

The front/rear suspensions of all models have been redesigned together with the platform.

The front suspension is a newly designed leading-arm MacPherson strut type with a higher caster angle. The rear suspension is a new ETA beam type (torsion-beam suspension with a toe control function). Working together with a new tire size and highly rigid body, these new suspension designs ensure ample wheel stroke, improving riding comfort and quietness and providing outstanding handling and driving stability.

4WD models come with a new compact double-wishbone suspension in the rear, featuring optimized placement of the arms. This suspension improves riding comfort, and provides outstanding handling and driving stability.

The electric power steering system has a minimal number of components and is compact. It consumes power only when power steering assistance is required, helping lower fuel consumption. The assistance characteristic changes smoothly in response to information received from a vehicle speed sensor, providing an outstanding handling feel at any speed (provided on some grades).

This system uses a viscous coupling at the front of the rear differential. Under normal driving conditions on a straight road, torque is distributed in a manner similar to a front-wheel drive vehicle. On a slippery road or corner, adoption of Toyota's V^*-Flex Full-time 4WD System determines the optimum torque distribution to the front and rear wheels.

WIDE RANGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES―The new Corolla has been designed to minimize environmental impact through a variety of measures. Despite its ample cabin and luggage space, it has been made as compact as possible, helping save resources. It has also been designed for cleaner emissions. The sedan and wagon are among the best in their respective classes in fuel efficiency, resulting in lower CO2 emissions. Overall, emissions are 25% lower than the levels mandated for 2000.

The addition of VVT-i, the use of the high-efficiency Super ECT transmission and power steering, and a thoroughly lightweight structure put each new gasoline-powered Corolla model in the top ranks of fuel efficiency. Some grades meet new fuel consumption standards set to go into effect in 2010 (making buyers eligible for reduced tax at the time of purchase¹).

Gasoline-powered models also feature an ultra-fine mist fuel injector and a front-intake/rear-exhaust layout to increase catalyst warming performance and create cleaner emissions. All models meet the new emissions regulations for 2000 (making buyers eligible for reduced tax at the time of purchase²). HC and NOx levels are more than 25% below the levels mandated for 2000, meeting the levels set by Japan's Environment Agency as standards for low-emissions vehicles. Diesel-powered models also meet the latest emissions regulations.

Toyota Super Olefin Polymer (TSOP), an easily-recycled thermoplastic resin, is used throughout the interior and exterior, in parts such as the front/rear bumpers, instrument panel, pillar garnish and console box.

Recycled materials are used extensively in parts such as the floor silencer, luggage compartment side trim and dashboard insulator.

Kenaf (an annual related to the hollyhock) is used as the base material for the package tray trim, helping to preserve wood resources.

Parts such as the radiator, dashboard silencer, heater core, wire harness coverings and window glass ceramic contain no lead, reducing environmental impact.

HIGH LEVEL OF SAFETY―Each new Corolla model is among the top in its class in active and passive safety. Along with outstanding braking, lane-changing and emergency avoidance, each model is designed with refined collision-safe GOA^* and incorporates several new technologies in the seats and seat belts.

Large multi-reflector headlamps provide outstanding illumination, and some grades come with water-repellent glass and rain-clearing door mirrors for improved wet-weather visibility.

The new suspension design and high-rigidity body provide outstanding emergency avoidance.

All models have a front brake caliper size of at least 14 inches, ensuring outstanding braking performance. The brake pedal ratio and booster characteristic have been changed for a better-defined, more easily controlled braking feel from the moment the driver steps on the brakes.

The new Corolla achieves outstanding braking performance by correctly distributing the braking force to the front/rear wheels to match a variety of driving conditions (changes in load due to load shifting or deceleration). ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution) has also been added as a standard feature on all models, along with a brake assist function for increased effectiveness. The ABS system has various functions to help maintain vehicle stability when braking while cornering or in an emergency.

VSC^* is available as an option on the 2WD version of the LUXEL, the highest grade. VSC and TRC are available in a combined optional package.

A tire pressure warning system is standard on most grades. The system detects low tire pressure early on, helping to minimize its adverse effects on driving stability and fuel consumption.

To ensure safety during collisions with heavier vehicles or at higher speeds, all models have refined collision-safe GOA bodies and have passed a 40% lap offset front collision test at 64 km/h and a full lap front collision test and side collision test at 55 km/h.

A specially designed underbody and brake pedal attachment help prevent the brake pedal being forced back into the vehicle interior during a front-end collision, thus reducing possible shock to the driver's legs.

Shock-absorbing ribs in pillars and roof side rails ensure that the interior structure offers safety equal to that outlined in U.S. head impact protection standards.

Standard features on all models include driver seat and front passenger seat SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) air bags, seat belts with pretensioners and force limiters, and warning indicators that flash when seat belts are not properly fastened.

The front seat design of all models incorporates the WIL (Whiplash Injury Lessening) concept, lessening the shock to occupants' necks during a collision from the rear.

The left and right rear seats come with special child seat anchors conforming to the ISO-FIX^* standard.

Models with rotating front passenger seats enabling easy access for the elderly or disabled are available in some grades (Types A and B). Type B has a power wheelchair storage device that makes it easy to load and unload a wheelchair to and from the luggage space (standard).

Specially equipped models are available in some grades, with standard features such as 60% lighter power steering for hands-only driving. These models enable attachment of driving assistance equipment and special driver seats.