PLANO, Texas, Aug. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This past
July, Toyota sold the 50-millionth Corolla, a milestone not just in
Toyota history, but automotive history, as well. Now in its 12th
generation and over 55 years in production, Corolla remains one of
the world's top-selling vehicles, earning buyers' confidence and
trust one car at a time.
Toyota introduced the Corolla in 1966, and it arrived in the
U.S. in spring 1968 as a 1969 model, starting at about $1,700. Gas cost $0.35 a gallon, and the median household income
was $7,700. The No. 1 TV show in
America was "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," and top hit songs that
early Corolla drivers would have heard on the optional AM radio
included Otis Redding's "(Sittin'
on) The Dock of the Bay," Simon and Garfunkle's "Mrs. Robinson" and The Beatles' "Hey Jude."
As the Corolla quickly evolved to offer more room, comfort and
performance, it became a value benchmark in its class and grew into
one of the largest branches in the Toyota family tree. Corolla's
most significant role, however, has been the one it has played in
the lives of the millions who have been buying and driving this
dependable model for more than half a century.
The Corolla has been making memories and stories for nearly
three generations of customers. That adds up to billions of first
jobs, first dates, daily commutes, graduations, vacations, doctor
appointments, weddings, kids' ballgames … all the meaningful events
that make a life. Even people who never owned a Corolla have a
Corolla story to tell about one they remember a friend, neighbor,
cousin or coworker driving.
Fifty million cars later, this pillar of the Toyota family
remains trusted for being well equipped for any situation. For an
affordable price, the 2022 Corolla combines advanced tech, sporty
style and top-level comfort with up to 53/52/52 EPA estimated MPG
in the hybrid model and the protection of standard Toyota Safety
Sense 2.0 featuring automatic emergency braking.
Just as it did at the end of the 1960s, Corolla today offers
buyers the freedom and independence that comes from its
affordability, along with confidence that a car can provide many
years of reliable service with low overall cost of ownership. The
2022 Corolla line continues that proud and personal tradition with
sedans, a sporty hatchback, a hybrid and the first-ever Corolla
Cross compact crossover.
For Corolla, dependability isn't just about how the car runs,
but also describes how it becomes a trusted member of the
households it serves. It's no wonder that a Corolla has long been
the start of a "Toyota family," with other Toyota models soon
joining it in many driveways and garages.
Ready for Anything
Corolla sales were already on the upswing when the October 1973 Oil Embargo set off a chain reaction
of long lines and higher prices at the gas pump, and even fuel
rationing. The increasing number of buyers who turned to Corolla
could be confident that even just few gallons in the tank would be
enough to meet the needs of the week or more.
Corolla emerged from that downbeat period with even wider and
rapidly growing appeal, and Toyota began to add more models,
including sporty fastback coupe and liftback versions. Toyota's
steadfast dedication to continuous improvement ensured that every
new generation of Corolla offered more than its predecessor.
By the mid-1980s, Toyota was building Corollas in the U.S., and
today, Corollas are built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing
Mississippi, Inc. (TMMMS), which opened in 2011. The new Mazda
Toyota Manufacturing plant in Huntsville,
Alabama, began building the all-new Toyota Corolla Cross
this year.
While the 2022 Corolla may seem lightyears from its late 1960s
ancestor, its core values trace a line right back to that first
edition. The Corolla continues to evolve to meet the ever-changing
needs of a growing and diverse customer base but has never veered
from its mission to deliver renowned Toyota quality, durability and
reliability with high fuel economy at an affordable price. It's
just gotten a whole lot more refined and enjoyable to drive.
Here's a look at how Corolla got to 50 million ... and
counting.
First Generation: 1969-1970
The first Corolla was the essence of simplicity, with a clean
and crisp design offering generous all-around visibility in coupe,
four-door sedan and two-door wagon models. A coupe called Corolla
Sprinter with a slightly lower semi-fastback roofline arrived
later.
All Corollas had a short-stroke 1,077-cc overhead-valve
four-cylinder engine that used aluminum for the cylinder head,
intake manifold, valve cover and clutch housing – pretty forward
thinking at the time. Wheels were just 12-inch diameter, and the
only transmission offered was a four-speed manual. With 60
horsepower (51 hp SAE net) zero-to-60 took around 17 seconds, and
the top fuel economy estimate was in the high 20s.
The 1969 Corolla two-door sedan started at just under
$1,700, and among its standard
features were reclining front seats and a locking fuel-filler door.
Attention to detail impressed auto media and customers. Said "Car
and Driver" magazine in a road test, "Not only is the interior well
designed but it's also well finished, right down to the carpet
that's perfectly molded to the shape of the floor with every edge
carefully bound to avoid that low-priced look."
Second Generation: 1971-1974
The second-generation Corolla grew in size, with a slightly
longer wheelbase, moved up to 73 horsepower and offered Corolla's
first optional automatic transmission, a two-speed. (A three-speed
arrived a bit later.) For 1972, an SR-5 coupe featured a 88-hp (SAE
net) 1.6-liter engine with a five-speed manual transmission to be a
fun companion to the new Celica sport coupe. Corolla had by this
time become the second-best-selling car in the world.
Third Generation: 1975-1979
The Corolla again grew a bit in size and offered 1.2, 1.3 and
1.6-liter engines. The line added fastback coupe and Liftback
models for 1976, which featured fresh front styling. The Liftback
was more like a sport wagon and added rear seat head room, the
result being both sporty and eminently practical.
Fourth Generation: 1980-1984
A bold, angular design distinguished the fourth-generation
Corolla, which kept its wide range of models. The new design
focused on roominess and quietness while adding more amenities. The
U.S. model offered a 75-hp OHV 1.8-liter engine and the 4A-C 90-hp
OHC 1.6-liter engine. The two-door models were praised for front
seats with a "memory" feature that allowed the seats to slide
forward to assist with rear seat ingress/egress, and then return to
the same position and recline angle.
Fifth Generation: 1985-1988
The fifth-generation Corolla brought big news all around. The
main series switched to front-wheel drive for added interior room
and better all-weather traction. In a joint venture with General
Motors called New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI), Toyota
began building Corollas in California. All front-drive engines were now
SOHC configuration.
A rear-drive Corolla model, known by its VIN prefix "AE86," came
in coupe and hatchback styles. The top GT-S version packed the heat
of the legendary 4A-GE DOHC 1.6-liter engine. In 1987, a new
front-drive FX hatchback was added, and the top version, the FX16
GT-S, inherited the 4A-GE engine to create a new "hot hatch" model.
The rear-drive GT-S would later become a drifting legend, in real
life and in video games. The spirit of both those cars continues in
the 2022 Corolla Hatchback.
Sixth Generation: 1989-1992
The sixth-generation Corolla line was now all front-wheel drive,
with all models powered by 16-valve DOHC engines and featuring
four-wheel independent suspension. The Corolla All-Trac wagon and
sedan models had an effective all-wheel drive system. The new coupe
featured pop-up headlights like the AE86 and came in SR-5 and GT-S
models. The latter was quite sporty, indeed, featuring the 4A-GE
engine, special wheels and a bold body kit. The GT-S had 135
horsepower in the 1990-1991 version.
Seventh Generation: 1993-1997
The seventh-generation Corolla, available only in sedan and
wagon styles in the U.S., became more Camry-like in its design, and
in fact moved up in cabin size to the compact segment while the
Camry moved to midsize. Both 1.6-liter and 1.8-liter DOHC engines
were offered. For 1997, a CE sedan packaged numerous popular
options for a special value-priced model. The timing seemed
appropriate to celebrate Corolla becoming the best-selling car
model in history that year.
Eighth Generation: 1998-2002
The eighth-generation Corolla improved on the proven formula,
with yet more cabin room on the same wheelbase as the previous
model. The redesigned unibody improved passenger crash protection
and, notably, side airbags became available. A new all-aluminum
1ZZ-FE 1.8-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine debuted the Variable
Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) system and made 120
horsepower with higher fuel economy ratings.
Ninth Generation: 2003-2008
In its ninth-generation, Corolla got a bit longer and taller to
create its roomiest cabin ever. A Corolla S model added sport-tuned
suspension and special body styling. With its 130-horsepower
engine, the Corolla had an EPA-estimated 31 combined MPG with the
five-speed manual transmission and 28 combined MPG with the
four-speed automatic. As a sign of the times, the center console
box could hold 14 compact discs.
For 2005, the performance-tuned Corolla XRS model combined the
high-revving 164-horsepower 2ZZ 1.8-liter engine from the Celica
GT-S with a six-speed manual transmission and sport-tuned
suspension.
"The levels of fit and finish are nothing short of remarkable,"
commented "Car and Driver" magazine about the ninth-generation
Corolla. By 2002, the Corolla had achieved 25 million sold
worldwide.
10th Generation: 2009-2013
In the 10th-generation Corolla, a multi-faceted focus on
refinement resulted in what "Motor Trend" magazine observed "must
be the quietest car in its class, with less wind noise than many
luxury cars." The body had a sleeker look than before and was just
as roomy. The XRS model returned, now with the 2.4-liter engine
from the Camry for higher torque and greater responsiveness in
everyday driving. With CDs beginning to fade, the higher-grade
Corolla models offered JBL Premium Audio with iPod connectivity,
Bluetooth and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.
Comfort and tech had become higher priorities for compact car
buyers, and the Corolla obliged with the XLE grade, which offered
an available power moonroof and a JBL audio system with
AM/FM/six-disc CD changer, plus satellite radio and eight
speakers.
11th Generation: 2014-2018
The 11th-generation Corolla debuted a chiseled new body. The
rear seat's 41.4 inches of legroom exceeded that of many midsize
and full-size sedans. All Corolla models now featured eight
standard airbags, including a new driver's knee airbag and front
passenger seat cushion airbag. Critically, the 2017 Corolla came
standard with Toyota Safety Sense-P, a total safety system anchored
by automatic emergency braking and that bundled the Pre-Collision
System with Pedestrian Detection; Lane Departure Alert with
Steering Assist; Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and
Automatic High Beams.
Upgraded interior materials continued the premium feel, and a
touchscreen audio system featured Bluetooth, USB and iPod
connectivity as standard. Automatic climate control became standard
on the LE grade and above. The L and sporty S grades standard with
a six-speed manual transmission, while the automatic transmission
was now a CVT to boost fuel economy. The Corolla Eco model with
Valvematic engine technology had an EPA estimated 42 MPG highway /
34 MPG combined.
12th Generation: 2019-present
For 2019, the Toyota Corolla line brought a new sedan with a
lower, leaner, tauter look. Bigger news: The hatch was back! A
sporty hatchback returned to the line after a long absence. And
still bigger news: The first Corolla Hybrid Sedan debuted, becoming
the fuel economy champ of the line with an astounding EPA estimated
52 combined MPG.
The Corolla Hatchback has a body all its own and channels the
spirit of the past Corolla GT-S and XRS performance models, thanks
to the 169-horsepower 2.0-liter Dynamic Force engine and
rev-matching intelligent six-speed manual transmission. This hot
yet highly efficient powerplant is also available in the Corolla
sedan. And, while the Corolla Hybrid is the line's MPG rating
leader, the other models are efficiency experts, too, with the
2.0-liter models having an estimated rating of up to 35 combined
MPG.
The Corolla Sedan and Hatchback offer a Nightshade Special
Edition, an XSE sport model and a luxury-flavored XLE grade. The
Dynamic Shift CVT available for all models (except the Hybrid) uses
a geared first ratio for a better performance feel and efficiency.
The limited-availability Corolla Apex took performance to an even
higher level with a bold body kit, track-developed suspension with
lowering springs, lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels and a
sport-tuned exhaust.
For 2022, the first-ever Corolla Cross joins the line, a new
crossover with ample space to tackle the town and generously
equipped with Toyota's renowned comfort and tech features. All
Corolla models are built on the Toyota New Global Architecture
(TNGA) platform for high levels of agility and safety. And, all
Corolla models feature standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 on all
grades.
The Beat Goes On
After 50 million cars, the Toyota Corolla heads into the future
offering stylish, agile, quiet, roomy, highly efficient models
brimming with the latest tech and safety and ready to write
millions more personal stories around the globe. Toyota invites
everyone with a Corolla story to share it using
#MyCorollaStory.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in
North America for more than 60
years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation
mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands plus our 1,800
dealerships.
Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs
more than 47,000 in North America.
The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and
assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at our 14
manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in
Alabama that begins production in
2021.
Through its Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights
the way it partners with community, civic, academic and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move,
anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit
www.toyotanewsroom.com.
For customer inquiries, please call: 800-331-4331 or visit
https://www.toyota.com/corolla/ for more.
Media Contacts:
Paul Hogard
469-292-6791
paul.hogard@toyota.com
Note to Editors: Photos b-roll and additional specifications can
be found on ToyotaNewsroom.com
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SOURCE Toyota