This new concept reveals the Toyota Corolla's electric future
Toyota will reinvent its best-selling Corolla hatchback for a 13th generation, and the Japanese firm is introducing some huge changes this time around.
The Corolla will gain a dramatic new design with next-generation interior technology - but the biggest change will come beneath the metal.
Toyota will offer the new Corolla with an electric powertrain for the first time. It will be the brand’s first electric hatchback, too.
Want to know more? Read on for all you need to know…
The Corolla is the world's best-selling car, having sold over 50 million units since its 1966 launch. Its wide-reaching update will boost flexibility as it prepares to compete with the Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia in the coming years.
The upcoming Toyota Corolla, showcased as a concept at the Tokyo motor show, marks a radical departure from the current model. It features a complete redesign, both inside and out, aligning with Toyota's new, sharper design aesthetic.
"We're going to reinvent the best-selling car of all time," said Toyota designer Lance Scott at the unveiling, emphasising the significance of the Corolla's historic popularity and outlining Toyota's plan to maintain that mass appeal by catering to the varying demands of its customers in markets around the world.
A multi-powertrain line-up will be crucial for the Corolla’s success. It will include both electric and combustion-based powertrains, the latter using an entirely new engine whose compact packaging is described as being essential to the Corolla concept's rakish look and drivetrain-agnostic packaging.
Designed at Toyota's European design centre in Nice, France, the concept aimed to completely reinvent the Corolla for a new era, rather than merely evolving its predecessors.
The interior also reflects this shift, moving from the Corolla's traditional, button-filled dashboard to a minimalist, tech-focused design. This suggests a new direction for Toyota's future interior aesthetics.
The Corolla concept features minimal physical controls, with most functions accessible through haptic feedback on the steering wheel, an optional passenger-side touchscreen, or a new satellite touch panel positioned off the steering wheel.
Reflecting its EV-first design, the traditional transmission tunnel has been removed, making way for a striking 'floating' centre console that houses the drive selector and phone charging pads.
Scott highlighted that the upcoming Corolla would maintain consistent cabin and boot dimensions across all versions, stating, "You can choose your powertrain, but you're not going to compromise on space, style or functionality."
The upcoming Toyota Corolla, much like its competitors, the Golf and Octavia, will not be exclusively electric. This strategy aims to maintain its broad appeal, acknowledging the varied pace of EV adoption across different global markets.
"It's about providing everyone with the right choice," said Scott. "We don't want to leave anyone behind."
Scott was asked by Move Electric’s sister publication Autocar if the concept was a realistic preview of the next Corolla, to which he replied: "Let's see what happens. With a positive reaction from the show, why not? It's not out of the realm of reality. It could be believable."
Toyota's recent concept vehicles, such as the Aygo X Prologue, Sport Crossover, and Urban Crossover, transitioned into production models with minimal design changes. The Corolla concept appears to follow this trend, looking similarly close to a showroom model.
At seven years old, the current Corolla is coming to the end of its natural life cycle, so a successor model could be expected to arrive next year - but Toyota has not indicated a planned launch. We’ll have to wait and see…
