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TOYOTA Corolla Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 4
First production year: 2007
Engines: Gasoline, Diesel
Body style: Hatchback
TOYOTA Corolla US photo gallery

The Corolla was one of the best selling vehicles in the world since the nameplate's launch in 1966. In 2012, Toyota introduced the eleventh generation, which refreshed in 2016 for the U.S. market.

Toyota released the facelift for their home-market in April 2015, but it took them another two years to reach U.S. soil. In 2017, the compact sedan was already the best-selling vehicle in its class, and it did that for a reason. Its high-reliability index and the low costs of ownership made it looks like a bargain. For the facelifted version, Toyota changed a few things about the car, and the result was a safer, better-looking vehicle.

The Corolla featured new LED driving lights that looked like sharp teeth at the front on the outside. A bigger, wider grille found its place on the lower side of the bumper, while the regular grille from above was slimmer. It looked like Toyota designers wants to get rid of that part. The headlights were changed and received LED or bi-LED lamps depending on the trim level. Toyota installed 16" light-alloy-wheels as standard on the LE and XLE versions, while the SE and XE received a set of 17" wheels.

Inside, Toyota improved the cabin with new features such as the new infotainment system, with a 7" touch-screen installed above the center stack. But the biggest change was on the safety systems side, where the carmaker installed a full pack of features such as lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, or automatic braking system.

Under the hood, Toyota dropped a 1.8-liter unit paired to a 6-speed manual for the base model, or a CVT for the others. With eight hp more, an eco version was on the options list and returned a slightly better fuel-efficiency.

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TOYOTA Corolla Altis photo gallery

The Corolla was one of the most successful vehicles in the world with sales that went through the roof since its first introduction in 1966. The 2014 Altis was the European Corolla sedan. But with a different name, for the Asian market.

The 11th generation of the Corolla, named Altis, was launched in Singapore in 2014. Unlike some bald-looking former generation, that one had a sportier look with a more aggressive bumper that included side scoops and a lower front grille.

The headlights were placed upper than the grille, to give the impression of an "angry" car. The three chromed lines on it gave the impression of support between the headlights and a connection to the center badge. In the rear, another chromed line was installed between the taillights.

Inside, Toyota Altis was more interesting than its predecessor. On the center console, the infotainment

unit was surrounded by a carbon-fiber rim, to improve the sport-inspired overall look. Unfortunately, the seats were flat, with little support for the sides. The wheelbase allowed enough legroom for the rear passengers.

Under the hood, there was only one engine offered, a 1.6-liter with dual VVTI. It was mated to a 6-speed manual or a CVT. Since it was a modern version, the car-manufacturer offered it wit paddles behind the steering wheel, with 6 presets transmission ratio.

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TOYOTA Corolla photo gallery

Toyota refreshed the tenth generation of the Corolla in 2010, adding some more youth-oriented features to the best-selling car in the world.

The Corolla smashed records after records in worldwide selling. Apart from the Ford F-150, which is a pickup truck, it was the best-selling car in the world, and Toyota tried to keep that momentum. That's why it made some changes. Moreover, there were some changes that had to be made due to the Euro 5 emission standards. But that wasn't all.

On the outside, the Corolla got a front fascia with redesigned headlights that featured clear lenses. Moreover, the bumper was also reshaped and got a broader air intake on the lower side. In addition, Toyota's designers didn't run out of steam and continued with the back of the vehicle and changed the taillights, which gained silver rings around the parking and braking lights. Finally, the bumper got a new shape to accommodate the fresh rear lamps.

Inside, Toyota introduced a new sound system with six speakers and Bluetooth connectivity. In addition, the automaker installed a USB port in the center storage compartment for an MP3 player. Yet, the rest of the cabin was virtually unchanged. Like its non-facelifted sibling, it featured cranked rear windows for the base trim level and power windows for all on the higher grades.

Under the hood, the Japanese automaker installed a range of gasoline and turbo-diesel engines, ranging between 90 and 130 hp.

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TOYOTA Corolla photo gallery

Toyota introduced the tenth generation of the Corolla in 2006 in Japan, while U.S. customers could see it in the flesh in the following year at the 2007 SEMA auto show in Las Vegas in October.

The Corolla was already a worldwide bestseller, and customers loved it for its reliability and low maintenance costs. Its biggest downturn was the dull aspect both on the exterior and interior. But Toyota tried to change that, and the tenth generation of this moniker saw a different approach in terms of design. In addition, the cabins were greatly improved and featured modern systems, while the engines got a little bit punchier. Not enough to call the car a sports sedan, but at least it didn’t struggle on entry ramps anymore to catch up with highway speeds.

This generation wore the Axia name in Japan, while in most other countries, Toyota sold it as the Corolla. Unlike other generations of it, it shared the same exterior design around the world, with slight adjustments according to local regulations. The new design language mixed arched lines with a few sharp angles. At the front, the bumper featured an upper chromed grille and a lower one flanked with side scoops. In sedan shape, the Corolla featured an ascending beltline that started from the swept-back headlights and continued all the way to the back, on the taillights. The four-door sedan featured flush door handles and, depending on the trim level, chromed trims around the windows and black B-pillars. The rear fascia showed wide taillights that crossed from the quarter panels to the trunk’s lid above the rear bumper.

The cabin didn’t look like an upscale model, but it wasn’t dull anymore. Toyota installed stain-resistant upholsteries on the seats and light-gray trims on the center console, center stack, steering wheel, and door cards. True, it was made from hard plastic, but it looked better than in the Corolla’s ninth generation. Furthermore, the big dials for the speedometer and tachometer inside the instrument cluster featured integrated LCDs that displayed various information from the car’s onboard computer. Between them, the automaker installed two arrows for up-shifts and downshifts, which helped the driver achieve better fuel efficiency. The front seats were slightly raised on the sides and were designed mostly for comfort, with a knee-height center console. In addition, depending on the trim level, Toyota also offered the car with a center armrest between the front occupants. On the rear bench seat, the automaker installed two ISOFIX systems to fix child seats and a center fold-down armrest for situations when just two passengers sat there.

Another essential upgrade was for the platform, which featured new McPherson struts up front and torsion beam suspension at the back. As a result, the car boasted increased road handling over its predecessor. For selected markets, the car came fitted as standard with various safety systems, including Vehicle Stability Control (VSA), Brake Assist (BAS), and Traction Control (TC). Under the hood, the automaker installed a wide choice of diesel and gasoline engines, depending on the market, paired with either manual or automatic transmissions.

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