Shake your bon-bon in the new Corolla

The car itself was a stunner, but Toyota Motor Philippines decided to use no less than Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt for Toyota’s TV commercials to highlight what could be no less than the company’s resurgence to the top of passenger car market.

In festive rites held at the NBC Tent inside The Fort Entertainment Center in Taguig, the new Corolla comes at the heels of its chief rivals – the Honda Civic, launched early this year, and the Nissan Sentra Exalta, which was launched just over a month ago.

Now wearing crisply styled sheetmetal that evokes both European sedans and Toyota’s own Lexus IS200 sport sedan, the new Corolla is substantially larger compared to the previous model, with a wheelbase that’s more than four inches longer.

Inside, the bigger dimensions translate to a more spacious cabin, highlighted by leather seats and wood trim in the 1.8G, which also boasts an Optitron instrument panel (a blank black space when off but lights up when the ignition is turned on just like in a Lexus) and a chrome gated automatic transmission base that looks like it came from a Mercedes-Benz.

Notable changes compared to the old model are the use of all-new and more powerful timing chain-equipped twin cam 16-valve VVTi (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent) engines and the transition to a torsion beam-type rear suspension with stabilizer bar from the previous model’s MacPherson strut suspension. (The front suspension of the new Corolla still uses struts with stabilizer bars.)

The new Corolla Altis comes in four variants: the top-of-the-line 147-hp 1.8G with automatic transmission, the next-in-line 118-hp 1.6G with automatic transmission, the mid-level 1.6E with manual and automatic transmissions, and the entry-level 1.6J, also with manual and automatic. (The 1300-cc Corolla variants are represented by the carryover older-bodied models.) The catalytic converter-equipped new Corollas now boast full compliance to the very strict Euro 3 exhaust emissions standards.

Dual airbags are standard on the 1.8G and 1.6G while a driver-side airbag is standard on the 1.6E. ABS is standard on all models except the 1.6J while an in-dash CD player appears across-the-board.

With newfound power, stylish looks, a larger size, and a formidable array of features and specifications, the new Corolla is expected to more intensely fight the new Civic for market leadership in the passenger car segment, long a stronghold of the Civic and City models of Honda.

The new Corolla starts at P692,000 for the 1.6J with manual transmission and tops out at P898,000 for the 1.8G. The Corolla 1.6E M/T retails for P752,000 while the 1.6G A/T is priced at P832,000. Automatic transmission variants of the 1.6J and 1.6E are P727,000 and P787,000, respectively.

The new Corolla Altis can be seen in Toyota showrooms starting July 28. Just don’t expect to see Brad Pitt shaking his bon-bon inside. – Manny N. delos Reyes