2014 Toyota Corolla Joins Camry, Prius V And Rav4 As IIHS As Small Overlap Crash Test Flunkies

The redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla – one of the automaker’s most important models — earned a Marginal rating in the new and challenging small overlap frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said on Thursday.

The results are the latest indication of Toyota’s struggles to score well on this test. No Toyota vehicle has yet received the highest rating of Good in the small overlap front test. In December, when the 2013 Camry and Prius V were tested, both received the lowest rating of Poor. So did the 2013 RAV4, in July, despite changes to the steering column and footwell padding. The Scion tC is the only Toyota vehicle to get an Acceptable rating. In contrast, five of eight Honda models tested have received ratings of Good.
Because of its Marginal rating, the Corolla’s current standing as an I.I.H.S. Top Safety Pick will be going away, as the safety group moves to toughen the way it rates vehicles over all.

In August, when the I.I.H.S. released results for 12 other small cars, it did not test the Corolla because the new model was about to be introduced. When design changes are imminent, the institute, which is financed by the insurance industry, postpones testing so that its ratings do not quickly become obsolete.

The new small overlap evaluation, which the I.I.H.S. added to its repertory of crash tests last year, is intended to replicate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or with an object like a tree or utility pole. The institute rates on a scale of Good, Acceptable, Marginal and Poor.

The Corolla’s performance qualifies it as an I.I.H.S. Top Safety Pick for 2013. Currently, to earn that designation a vehicle must earn a Good rating in the group’s four other crash tests, regardless of how it performs in the small overlap test.

But the criteria will change when the institute announces its 2014 Top Safety Picks in December. At that point, models will have to earn a Good or Acceptable rating in the small overlap front test, as well as Good ratings in its other four tests (moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints).

The I.I.H.S. will up the ante for its highest rating, Top Safety Pick+, as well. For 2014, vehicles must earn a Basic, Advanced or Superior rating for frontal crash prevention systems (forward collision warning and automatic braking) in its newest tests, announced last month. In addition, vehicles must earn a Good or Acceptable rating in the small overlap test, and Good ratings in the other four tests.

In response to the Corolla’s scores, Toyota pointed out that the testing conducted by I.I.H.S. exceeded federal motor vehicle safety standards.

“With the small overlap test, the institute has raised the bar again, and we are responding to the challenge,” a spokeswoman for Toyota, Cindy Knight, said in an e-mail. “We are looking at a range of solutions to achieve greater crash performance in this area.”

Source (via www.autospies.com);
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/03/2014-toyota-corolla-gets-marginal-rating-in-tougher-crash-test/?_r=1&

Car and Driver: 2014 Toyota Corolla First Drive

by Kevin Wilson of www.caranddriver.com

News that quickens the pulses of actuaries everywhere: A new Corolla is shipping to dealerships from Toyota factories in Mississippi and Canada. We've finally driven the 11th-generation 2014 model and, well, it's a Corolla. A quieter, bigger one with better seats, a smoother ride, crisper steering, a “seven-speed” CVT function that's actually preferable to a traditional automatic, and a special fuel-sipper model rated at 42 mpg. It’s all wrapped in styling that merits the use of the word, and it’s packed with the infotainment features modern marketing demands. 

Parked alongside last year's model under San Diego's high August sun, the new Corolla glistens handsomely, looking less like that Nokia candy-bar phone your mother still uses. For all the standard LED headlamps and crisp folds, though, the creative metal bending stops well short of the inspiring Furia concept on which the production model is based. The 2014 Corolla comes only as a sedan—memories of Corolla hatchbacks, wagons, and coupes remain in history's dustbin alongside the hot-hatch FX16 and the rear-drive AE86. 

Quieter, Smoother
A 3.9-inch wheelbase extension smooths out sharp ride motions and expands rear-seat legroom—by Toyota's measure, there are 5.1 inches of additional space for stems in the back. The front seats are a significant improvement; the S model's bigger bolsters feel awfully soft for a “sport seat,” but the entire range has added thigh, lumbar, and lateral support. That will make journeys longer than a typical commute less punishing, as will sound-insulating measures (seals, insulation, glass) and the longer overdrive ratios that quell highway hubbub. 

Corolla's traditional L, LE, and S models use a carry-over 1.8-liter twin-cam VVTi four-cylinder, rated at the same 132 hp as last year. Efforts were made to minimize mass, but curb weight rises with the added length. You might anticipate a commensurate loss of performance, but the car feels a tad livelier. Credit the pair of new transmissions: a CVT for the shiftless, which offers a “stepped seven-speed” function in S models, and a fresh six-speed manual. Clutch-pedal availability is limited strictly to frugal-minded buyers of the base L model or the indulgent experience-seekers who opt for a nearly loaded S. 

On the road, the electronically managed CVT—branded as “CVTi-S”—banishes the form's usual drone, instead emulating the feel of a traditional automatic while being more efficient, quieter, and offering a better range of ratios. It’s certainly among the best CVTs ever, but can't mask the 1.8-liter's lack of low-rpm punch. Engaged drivers will prefer the new six-speed manual. The shifter throws are long but crisp and the clutch feel is good. Predictably but sadly, the pedals are so far apart as to negate heel-toe downshifts; if you expected Toyota to let you find the brake and gas pedals with the same foot, you haven’t paid attention in a long time. 

Drinking Less
The new LE Eco (leak-o?) model has more power (140) but less torque (126 lb-ft vs. 128), thanks to Valvematic, a tweak to the variable-valve system that minimizes intake valve lift at small throttle openings to reduce parasitic pumping losses. Hypermilers can also upgrade to Plus (alloys supplant the 16-inch steel wheels, plus fog lamps) or Premium (adds faux leather upholstery) trims. With the “Eco” button/electronic hair shirt enabled—it lives next to the shifter—the computer dials back the climate control and remaps the first half of the throttle travel to be less responsive. Base price on the LE Eco is $19,510, for which you get as high as 42 mpg on the highway. (Other ’Rollas can manage a up to 38 mpg highway.) 

The base L model keeps the starting price low, although it's hardly a stripper. At $17,610, it's $570 pricier than a year ago, you'll settle for 15-inch steel wheels, a groaning four-speed automatic or the fresh manual, but still get the LED lights, Bluetooth connectivity, air conditioning, power locks and windows, and eight airbags. A practical reason to get the stick: The four-speed slushbox returns the worst fuel economy of the bunch, at 27/36, and really has no business being offered in a new car. It’s not that it’s a terrible four-speed, it’s the fact that it is a four-speed in a world where most competitors offer six forward ratios—some from dual-clutch automatics—and some are ramping up to nine- and 10-speed ’boxes. We wouldn’t be surprised to see it canned in the near future, or to see Toyota to install the newer Eco engine across the board.

Stepping up to the LE brings the CVTi-S, with 16-inch wheels, a backup camera, automatic climate control, cruise control, keyless entry, and Toyota’s Entune infotainment suite, which operates via a 6.1-inch touch screen. Again, Plus and Premium trims up the content, while the options are a moonroof and a Driver’s Convenience package that adds upgrade audio, navigation, and keyless start. 

At $19,810, the 2014 Corolla S is down ever so slightly from last year. It adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift paddles on CVT cars, and dual-upholstery seats, and you might want to spend extra for the S Plus to get rear discs in place of the standard drums. The CVT in S models offers a “Sport” automatic mode that delivers higher shifter points and holds each “gear” under braking; the driver can also choose from among the seven preset ratios using the shift lever or the set of paddle shifters behind the wheel. The manual-gearbox S comes only in a loaded, $22,110 edition with moonroof, navigation, keyless start, and 17-inch wheels. All S models have a nice stitched leather steering wheel that feels like it's actually connected to something; while the handling is hardly inspired, it’s competent enough to make you wish the Corolla had more engine. The S tuning feels more buttoned down than the LE’s, but not to the point of diminishing ride quality. Grooved pavement on the I-5 induced moderate on-center wander in all trims, although it was worst in the LE Eco. 

The S is denoted by piano black trim both in the grille and the interior, and a revised gauge cluster with a TFT driver’s-info display centered between the equally sized speedometer and tach. (Other models get three gauge pods, including a giant fuel gauge on the right.) The S also has a modest rear spoiler that looks less silly than the overstated one on last year's car, as well as a chrome exhaust tip. If you like to drive but must have a Corolla, the S is the one to have, but even here driving enjoyment takes a lower priority than Toyota's traditional ones: implied quality, durability, and reliability.  

If Toyota's touted quest for more passion in its cars raised anyone's expectations for a driver-centric Corolla along the lines of, say, the excellent and equally new 2014 Mazda 3, they underestimated the aversion to risk characteristic of the world's largest automaker. As the bestselling model of all time—40 million and counting, and 38 percent of all Toyotas ever sold in America—the Corolla's ubiquity defines mainstream conformity. It's not hard to find a Corolla owner professing “love” for the car, but if you ask why, the answers about “trouble-free” miles and fuel economy speak to passions that also drive excitement for leaf blowers and laundry equipment. It wasn't always thus, but today’s Corolla caters to people who equate driving with a chore and define a good car as one that minimizes their pain. By those standards, the new, improved 2014 model should still be a smash hit—it’s as painless as ever. 

Source (with a ton of pix);
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-toyota-corolla-first-drive-review

2014 Toyota Corolla Production

 

Hmmmm..... I instantly thought of a old school Cylon when I saw the redesign....

Toyota has finally unveiled its all-new 2014 Corolla, as foreshadowed by the Furia concept at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The model made its Canadian debut this morning in Ottawa.

The completely redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla borrows some visual cues from the Furia and sports a large black front grille, more sculpted taillights, as well as plenty of sophisticated interior features.

Two 1.8L four-cylinder engines will be available, including 132-hp and 140-hp variants.

http://www.auto123.com/en/news/here-it-is-all-new-2014-toyota-corolla?artid=156629

Are you the 2014 Toyota Corolla?

The world premiere of the 2014 Toyota Corolla is to be held today in the U.S. However as the internet has proved time and time again, patience is not one of its virtues.

Courtesy of Autoweb.cz, we have a low resolution side profile shot of the 11th generation Corolla to share with you hours before the official launch. The upward kink on the rear window, the shape of the daylight opening, the rear combination light extension and the foglight housing make references to the Furia or to past leaks.

We’d have to wait to learn if Toyota is spawning two versions of the 2014 Corolla a la 2012 Camry – one for the self-driven American market and one for global markets, where Corollas are used differently.

Source;
http://indianautosblog.com/2013/06/2014-toyota-corolla-leak-80299

Paultan.org: See the next-gen Toyota Corolla Altis from all angles!

 

By Hafriz Shah of www.paultan.org 

These aren’t quite the official pictures of the next-generation Toyota Corolla Altis, but they could have fooled you, couldn’t they? Highly detailed and photo-realistic as they are, these are 3D renderings of the car by Humster3D. We’ve purchased the renderings for you to see.

It’s still unclear whether the model is based on leaked or official data, but the last time we featured a rendering by the same source, the W222 Mercedes S-Class digital images turned out to be nigh on identical to the real thing. We could well be looking at the 2013 Toyota Corolla Altis, which is due later this year.

Compared to the leaked spyshots of the production car we published in February, these renderings are accurate down to the smallest details. The front face carries a heavy resemblance to the new Vios, albeit with a lot more flair infused into it. Those are LED DRLs flanking the bold new grille.

The side profile follows that of the Toyota Furia Concept from the 2013 Detroit show, and the rear lights appear simple, yet shapely enough to be universally attractive. It’s a big step forward from the existing Corolla Altis, that’s for sure. So how about it, like what you see here?

Source (with more pix!);
http://paultan.org/2013/05/29/toyota-corolla-altis-rendering/

2014 Corolla to Have CVT, 6-speed Manual, and Higher HP Valvematic Engine

Looks like the spec's were released by Jason Lancaster and he had to take whatever info down, but not before www.autospies.com got the info....

The 2014 Corolla order guide is out, and the big changes are:

- The 4speed automatic is all but dead - only the base model will offer it

- A new "Eco" trim level will replace the SE trim, and it will feature a higher HP engine with "valvematic" technology that will be faster AND more fuel efficient.

- There will be some snazzy new luxury features available, including Softex leather, navigation, and push button start.

- There will also be some funky new colors available, including something called 4Evergreen.

The addition of a Valvematic 1.8L and a 6-speed manual could be very exciting. Supposedly, the 6-speed is fun to drive, and while the new engine won't be outrunning a Focus ST or anything, it's going to be "snappy".
 
Source; 
http://www.autospies.com/news/2014-Corolla-to-Have-CVT-6-speed-Manual-and-Higher-HP-Valvematic-Engine-76001/

2014 Toyota Corolla Car and Driver Rendering

Well, here's another rendering, looks good with the Honda SI Burnt Orange colour....

The Toyota Corolla Furia concept shown at the Detroit Auto Show in January this year was widely considered to be a concept car of the 11th generation Toyota Corolla.

The world famous midsize sedan is perhaps the superstar of the auto industry and features at the top of the list of the world’s best selling cars in history.

However this wasn’t to be – no less than a month after the presentation of the concept, the production model’s images leaked on the internet from a private presentation. Oh yes, the design was a drastic transformation, but we failed to find strong connections between the Furia and the production car.

Car & Driver Brazil has carried a rendering of the 2014 Toyota Corolla from a different angle in a darker body color. The author describes the Corolla as being 4.62 m long (more than 8 cm than the current version), 1.81 m wide with a wheelbase of 2.70 m.

The head room has improved considerably and so has the rear seat travel experience. It features traditional analog style instruments along with a sober background lighting and trim colors.

The engine options may not differ from the current crop for the Brazilian market. The incoming model will continue with 1.8- and 2.0-liter engines. What changes, at the request of Brazilian customers, is the gearbox. Both manual and automatic gearboxes will feature six speeds.

The new Corolla debuts in mid-to-late 2013 and about six months from the international launch schedule, the car will begin retailing in overseas markets. We can expect the new Corolla to bow in India in mid-2014.

Source;
http://indianautosblog.com/2013/04/rendering-2014-toyota-corolla-71393

2014 Toyota Corolla Set for Unveiling Before 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show

Toyota Corolla Furia Concept Picture

Just the Facts:

• The redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla will be unveiled before the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show.
• A Toyota spokesman told Edmunds that the Corolla will be on sale by the time of the Los Angeles show.
• Toyota is not saying where the Corolla will be unveiled, only that it will be "somewhere in the U.S."

NEW YORK — The redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla will be unveiled before the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show, a Toyota senior executive said on Wednesday at the NADA/J.D. Power and Associates conference in New York City.

Bob Carter, the senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., made the remark to reporters following a keynote speech at the conference. A Toyota spokesman told Edmunds that the Corolla will be on sale by the time of the 2013 Los Angeles show.

Toyota is not saying where the Corolla will be unveiled, only that it will be "somewhere in the U.S."

"Between New York and L.A. is a big span," said Mike Michels, a Toyota spokesman in a phone conversation with Edmunds following Carter's remarks. "Sometime a production introduction doesn't fall into the auto show timeframe."

It is unlikely that the Corolla will debut at the 2013 SEMA Show.

The next-generation Toyota Corolla promises to be longer and lower than the 2013 Toyota Corolla. The redesigned Corolla was previewed in January in the form of the Toyota Corolla Furia Concept at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.

The concept rides on a 106.3-inch wheelbase compared to a 102.4-inch wheelbase on the 2013 Corolla, with an overall length of 181.9 inches versus 180.0 inches. The concept has an overall width of 71 inches compared with 69.4 inches on the 2013 Corolla, and an overall height of 56.1 inches versus 57.7 inches.
Toyota did not provide powertrain details on the Corolla Furia Concept.

The concept is fitted with 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels and features pronounced fender flares and a blacked-out grille treatment.

The 2014 Corolla takes aim at the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra.

Edmunds says: The 2014 Toyota Corolla gets teased ahead of a debut sometime before next November.

Source;
http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/2014-toyota-corolla-set-for-unveiling-before-2013-los-angeles-auto-show.html

SPYSHOTS: 2013 Toyota Vios/Corolla snapped undisguised!

If this isn't the actual next gen Corolla, it will be a SHARP indication as to what it will indeed look like....

Reader Jeff has sent in these spyshots of the 2013 Toyota Vios, taken in an unknown location. Following the third-gen car’s introduction in Indonesia, scheduled for the second half of 2013, the Malaysian launch is expected to happen sometime late this year.

Word on the wire is that the new car could be powered by an improved version of the familiar 1.5 litre VVT-i unit. Rumour has it that a CVT is likely, but according to product planners, a four-speed auto remains a possibility.

The third-gen car wears a bold new face, inspired by the likes of the next-gen Corolla Altis and Auris hatchback. Headlamps and grille are joined in a V shape, and a gaping lower grille adds a touch of sporty presence. Those appear to be projector headlamps, too.

Round the back, the tail lamps are bigger and sharper wrap-around units, now bridged by a chrome bar across the length of the boot lid. A cleaner, more grown-up look all round than the outgoing car, we think. What do you think?

Source;
http://paultan.org/2013/03/20/spyshots-2013-toyota-vios/