The current-generation Toyota Corolla has been around for a long time. Now is the time for the next generation to be revealed; and it’s about to happen. Later this week – on November 16, 2018 – Toyota's the new sedan will be unveiled in full. For now, the carmaker is whetting people’s appetite by dropping teasers, and the latest gives us a glimpse at the face of the all-new 2020 Corolla.
Unsurprisingly, the Corolla sedan largely follows the 2019 hatchback’s aggressive design. Following what Toyota calls its “Under Priority” and “Keen Look” design language, the upcoming Corolla has the same headlights, LED daytime running lights and large grille seen on the hatchback; but it also has a different front bumper and the Toyota badge moves up onto the bonnet.
Like the hatchback, the all-new Corolla will be based on the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform, which is said to be more rigid and have a lower centre of gravity than its predecessor. Additionally, the new Corolla will also share basic interior bits with its hatchback sibling, but is expected to be more spacious than the car it replaces – which will be a plus, considering the current-gen Corolla already has one of the roomiest back seats in its segment.
In terms of kit, the new Corolla will come with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 – a suite of safety features that includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, cruise control, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist. It will also feature Toyota’s data communication module that offers 24x7 connectivity services focused on safety, security, comfort and convenience based on real-time driving data. It also remains to be seen how many of these goodies will be offered on the India-spec Corolla.
It’s believed that the new Corolla will debut in plug-in hybrid form, with conventional petrol and diesel variants following soon after. Interestingly, as part of the Toyota-Maruti tie-up, there would be a Maruti version of this new Corolla as well. This will help Maruti expand its line-up and give the carmaker a premium offering that could be retailed via the Nexa sales network.
After its introduction in North America and China, the new Corolla is also expected to make its way to India. Considering the new Honda Civic and the thoroughly updated Hyundai Elantra facelift will also likely launch next year, it will certainly have some formidable rivals to contend with.