- Toyota is gearing up to introduce a facelifted Corolla in China.
- It features an all-new front end that echoes the Prius and RAV4.
- The model will be offered with both gas and hybrid powertrains.
Toyota’s lineup has been getting a fresh face and it appears that look will eventually spread to the Corolla, at least in China. That’s clear today as the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has revealed a facelifted sedan that follows in the footsteps of newer models such as the Prius, CH-R, and RAV4.
The changes are immediately apparent as the car has an all-new front end with C-shaped lighting units, which are connected by a thin illuminated strip. They’re joined by a new bumper, which features a smaller intake as well as a more streamlined design. We can also see what appear to be low-mounted headlights.
More: Toyota Quietly Upgrades Its Cheapest Sedan
The profile seemingly carries over untouched, but it’s possible the model could be outfitted with updated wheels. The rear end also appears similar, although the facelifted hybrid ditches the blue Toyota logo and appears to adopt darker trim around the taillights.
Gas Or Hybrid
Speaking of powertrains, customers will be able to choose between gas and hybrid options. The latter has a 1.8-liter engine producing 97 hp (72 kW / 98 PS) and a hybrid system that uses a lithium nickel-cobalt manganese oxide battery. The government also noted the model has a top speed of 99 mph (160 km/h) and a fuel consumption rating as low as 57 mpg US (4.13 L/100 km).
Customers can also get a traditional gas-powered sedan, which has a 2.0-liter engine developing 169 hp (126 kW / 171 PS). This enables the model to hit a higher top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h), although its fuel economy rating will likely be lower.
An official debut should follow soon in China, though it remains unclear whether these updates will reach the North American or global Corolla. For now, the updates remain exclusive to the Chinese market.
