Corolla grows bigger, sleeker

Growing up doesn’t necessarily mean growing old – nor getting ugly. Toyota Motor Philippines is set to roll out on its showroom floors late this month (to be introduced to the local press next week at The Fort) the newest Toyota Corolla iteration. And while the new model had gained some girth, the car is infinitely more stylish and attractive than ever.

Take the top-of-the-line model. Called the Toyota Corolla Altis, this all-new car is a heck of a lot sportier-looking compared to the previous model it replaces. But aside from merely looking good-thanks to its more inspired styling-the new Altis outperforms the previous model as well.

Credit goes to the new Altis’s powerplant. Though both the previous and the new models’ engines share the same DOHC configuration and displacement of 1.8 liters, the new motor makes about 20 horses more with 136 hp at 6000 rpm and 17 Nm of torque with 171 Nm at a lower engine speed of 4200 rpm.

Toyota’s vaunted variable valve timing technology, dubbed the VVT-i , takes the bow for this improvement. Manufacturer’s figures reckons the new car can sprint from 0 to 100 kph in 11.20 seconds, more than half a second quicker.

Which isn’t bad at all. After all, the new Altis tips the scales about 40 kilograms heavier at 1130 kg. The weight gain is due to an increase in length, up by 135 mm at 4530 mm. The new car’s width, at 1705 mm, gained a few millimeters too, and is taller by 115 mm at 1500 mm. All this translates to a larger interior, outsizing the previous model by several millimeters. The increase was also possible because the new Altis’s wheelbase grew by a significant 135 mm at 2600 mm.

For a bit of pizzazz, the Altis’s instrument panel sports Optitron gauges, a feature it shares with its Lexus siblings. Illuminated only when the engine is running, the instrument panel is blacked-out when not.

Sources said the Corolla to be sold here is specifically for the Southeast Asian market only, and is different from the version being sold in Japan. The Philippines is the third country to have this new model, after the mega-markets of Thailand and Taiwan. Incidentally, the car was launched in those countries amid huge fanfare, with Toyota opting for a Hollywood star — Brad Pitt – as its endorser. Now, buyers of the new Corolla can share something this megastar has; if not his looks, at least his car. Well, if that’s any consolation at all.