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Corolla has more safety and style in its 50th year
New Zealand’s top selling car, the Corolla, with more than 253,000 sales, is celebrating its golden anniversary with the sedan receiving safety, styling and technology upgrades.
New safety features available on all three models – GX, GLX and ZR – include the Toyota Safety Sense package comprising of Pre-Crash Safety system (PCS), Lane Departure Alert (LDA) and Automatic High Beam (AHB).
“The face lifted Corolla sedan expresses the Toyota philosophy of always a better way,” said Spencer Morris, Toyota New Zealand’s General Manager of Product. “We always look to make things better, with the needs of both business and private customers fully in mind.”
“New Corolla owners and drivers will appreciate its bolder front styling, the quality feel of the cabin, more safety equipment and higher levels of technology.”
A completely new nose for the 2017 Corolla sedan boasts a wider impression with the upper grille flanked by new headlights and a revised front bumper incorporating a new lower grille design. The range-topping ZR includes LED daytime running lights for a premium appeal.
At the rear there are new LED tail lights and a body coloured boot garnish with a chrome lower section. The 16-inch alloy wheels on the mid-range GLX and range-topping ZR model now feature dark grey accents.
In the cabin a new instrument panel includes a redesigned climate control panel with circular vents at both ends of the dashboard, dual ring optitron meters and a 4.2-inch coloured multi information display. The audio system now comes with a larger 7-inch touch screen display and voice recognition has been added to the GX.
The GLX features more chrome accents and a smart key system inside while the ZR swaps fabric for leather accented trims in the interior and delivers premium technology as standard, such as climate control air conditioning and satellite navigation system with SUNA.
An auto head light control system has been added to the GX and GLX models.
Toyota has also made running improvements to the Corolla sedan's 103kW/173Nm engine, a new oil temperature sensor promotes improved fuel economy and improved control of variable valve timing while electric‐fan voltage adjustments provide a better balance between coolant temperature and power consumption.
The Multidrive S continuously variable transmission (CVT) has been revised, these changes deliver greater driveability ensuring quicker, crisper and smoother shifts better aligned with the engine speed, offer greater assistance for more suitable engine braking when downshifting and the introduction of a “Sport” drive mode.
The front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam suspension systems adopt larger diameter
shock absorbers to enhance damping force for an improved balance between ride comfort and handling stability. Improved mounting rigidity for the upper body and suspension and an additional rear damper bush contribute to improved handling performance.
Corolla, the world’s most popular car with more than 44 million sales, was first sold in New Zealand in 1967 and has been nation’s top selling car since 2008.
“Corolla has always been one of our core models,” said Steve Prangnell, the General Manager of Sales for Toyota New Zealand.
“While the small car market is dominated by hatchbacks, the Corolla sedan is a key model in the Corolla range and in fact, its best year was as recent as 2015 when we sold 1,236 cars.”
Prior to the rise of SUVs, Corolla’s best ever sales year locally was in 1988 with nearly 10,000 units sold.
The 2017 Corolla sedan is on sale for:
1.8 GX sedan Auto/CVT $35,990
1.8 GLX sedan Auto/CVT $38,990
1.8 ZR sedan Auto/CVT $44,690