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Double-Take For New Corolla Hatch
Corolla buyers will get a choice of two distinctly different looking body styles when the revised top selling hatch goes on sale in July.
The GX and GLX grades adopt a European influence, while the higher grade Levin SX and Levin ZR grades taking strong design queues from Toyota USA’s Scion branded Corolla equivalent.
“All grades carry on the Corolla tradition of a stylish and distinctive exterior, with interior refinement that customers have come to expect. The greater external differentiation between the grades will appeal to a wider range of customer’s tastes.” Says Spencer Morris, Toyota New Zealand General Manager of Product.
“By introducing both the European and US influenced designs we can offer the best of both worlds to the New Zealand market.”
The look is derived from new designs unveiled at recent motor shows in Geneva and New York. The first is based on the refreshed European Toyota Auris and will form the basis of the popular GX and GLX grades in NZ.
It displays a more confident Toyota logo at the front, flanked by chrome strakes, new headlight clusters, a more prominent front bumper and a lower grille that extends into side rails running the full width of the car.
The second, sportier design is used on the Levin SX and Levin ZR Corolla hatch variants, debuted on the iM hatch from Toyota's youth-oriented Scion brand in the US.
Its sharp features include a body aero kit along with a distinctive piano-black honeycomb mesh pattern for its upper grille, hexagonal lower grille and side bezels.
To highlight the design changes, Toyota has introduced two new colours, Citrus and Bishop Blue.
Mr. Morris said both design themes for the new Corolla hatch produced a greater road presence with a visually broader stance.
"We are spicing up the Corolla hatch range with two distinct looks - the classic redesign seen in the European car and the added spark displayed by the sporty-looking US car," said Mr. Morris.
"In New Zealand, we can draw on the global strength of Toyota to offer compelling designs for cars like Corolla that stand out in the market and offer maximum appeal to buyers who have different tastes," he said.
“The interior has a higher class feel with enhanced quality; fuel consumption has been lowered and security upgraded for improvements across the car. This underscores Toyota's ability to ensure Corolla moves with the times to meet the changing needs of Kiwi drivers and their families."
Fuel consumption has improved by 7.6 percent to 6.1 litres/100 kms over the outgoing CVT model and emissions are down 5.9 percent to 143 g/km making new Corolla more cost effective to drive as well as better looking and better equipped.
In addition to the revised looks, the refreshed Corolla adds a reversing camera and a new audio display screen to GX model.
The GLX will gain a higher grade touch screen for the audio and reverse camera display.
Dual zone climate control air conditioning is a new addition to the Levin SX model, together with Smart key remote control central locking which also includes the engine immobiliser and an alarm system.
The top of the range Levin ZR gains LED Daytime running lights, headlamps and Satellite Navigation with SUNA traffic information in this latest revision to the Corolla.
The steering wheel across all models has controls for the main audio switches and cruise control, while the Levin grades add Multi Information Display where fuel economy, cruising range and air temperature displays can also be viewed. The audio system includes auxiliary and USB ports and Bluetooth capability, and now has a shark fin roof mounted antenna.
The remote central locking includes the engine immobiliser activation.
Corolla’s five star ANCAP crash test rating includes ABS brakes with brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, vehicle stability control, traction control and hill start assist control. There are seven airbags, two ISOFIX anchors and three tether anchors for child car seats.
The GLX model adds newly developed 16 inch alloy wheels and privacy glass accentuating the Corolla’s confident stance.
Sports seats are fitted to the Levin SX with an orange stitched fabric upholstery, a leather covered steering wheel, retracting and heated door mirrors and 17 inch alloy wheels with 215/45 series low profile tyres.
The Levin ZR adds leather upholstery with heated front seats and power adjustment of the lumbar settings on the driver’s seat.
Both Levin models have side skirts, a piano black rear diffuser and subtle spoiler to accentuate the sporty styling.
Corolla is powered by a 1.8 litre motor with dual variable valve timing producing 103 kWs and 173 Nm.
Corolla has been popular with local motorists throughout its 11 generations, selling more than 240,290 cars in 46 years.
Pricing for the restyled Corolla hatch range will be announced July 1st 2015.