ALL DRESSED UP
Refreshed Corolla Altis fires off Toyota’s 2017 salvo
HALF A CENTURY since the nameplate’s launch in 1966, the Corolla continues to play an important role in the Toyota juggernaut. Now on its 11th generation, the sedan has deservedly reached iconic status as a value-for-money vehicle that boasts the best of the experience and know-how of the popular Japanese car maker. In 2013, the 40-millionth Corolla was sold — further cementing its reputation as a much-beloved vehicle the world over.
Before 2016 gave way to the new year, Toyota Motor Philippines ( TMP) quietly launched the face- lifted version of the present-generation Corolla in the country. Though not an all-new model, observers can glean obvious changes even at first glance.
Appearing more muscular and taut, the Corolla Altis ( Toyota added the Altis tag at the turn of the century) strikes a sportier, more aggressive stance. Designers cleverly employed new sheet metal in creating lines to emphasize width. A new- look pair of head lamps is complemented by daytime running lights. The Altis also boasts a new front bumper and grille, along with a refreshed rear fascia. Even its wheel — 17 inches for the 2.0-liter version, 16 inches for the 1.6-liter variants — designs are new. Inside the cabin, Toyota introduces a new color called Flaxen, a pale yellowish-gray hue, to the proceedings.
Under the hood rumble the familiar 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter power plants — four- cylinder, DOHC, dual VVT- i engines known for high output, fuel efficiency and low emissions. These are paired to a seven-speed CVT, or a continuously variable transmission, enabling the Altis to promise “excellent acceleration performance from low to high speeds,” according to a TMP release. The new Corolla is offered in a new shade; Phantom Brown Metallic.
Satoru Suzuki, president of TMP, in a speech last month expressed excitement over the sales performance of the local automobile industry with an “expected volume of more than 400,000 units.” Significantly, the executive revealed that TMP reflected similarly robust numbers, saying: “Toyota likewise enjoys this upward trend as seen in our year-to-date sales of 144,488 as of November [2016].”
The new Corolla Altis is priced as follows: P894,000 (1.6 E M/T); P934,000 (1.6 G M/T); P990,000 (1.6 G A/T); P1,074,000 (1.6 V A/T); and P1.318 million (2.0 V A/T).