Japanese automaker Toyota recently unveiled the facelifted version of the Corolla Altis. Toyota will launch the new model across the global market in the coming months, while India debut is expected to happen at the start of 2017. The Toyota Corolla Altis has been a market leader in its segment and the new one is expected to perform equally well, despite the additional competition from the next-generation Hyundai Elantra and Chevy Cruze.
The new Toyota Corolla gets refreshing new cosmetic upgrades in form of the redesigned headlamps with LED clusters and a redesigned bonnet. The upper grill in the new model gets a little smaller in size while the lower grille has been enlarged and mates with the fog lamps to give it a fuller appeal. At the rear, the new Corolla is expected to get minor tweaks and might get LED clustered tail lamps. Moreover, the side door handles will get new chrome finish that will add-up to its overall style quotient. The 2017 model will feature redesigned alloys with a choice of 16 – 17 inch alloy wheels. The bumpers have been redesigned to give the car an aggressive stance.
Under the hood, the new Corolla will continue to be offered with a 1.8-litre four-cylinder VVT-i petrol engine that will generate about 138bhp of power and 173Nm of torque. While the diesel variant will get the 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine that generates 88bhp of power and 205Nm of torque. Both the variants will come mated to six-speed manual transmission and optional CVT automatic with seven speed tiptronic for the petrol trim.
On the safety aspect, Toyota will offer a new safety pack called as ‘Toyota Safety Sense’. This system includes LDA – Lane Departure Alert, PCS – Pre-Collision System and AHB – Automatic High Beam. Though much detail on the interior has not been revealed, we expect that the new model will get a few additional equipment along with revised styling. At the moment, we are not sure if Toyota will offer all of them in India, at the time of the launch.
The new model is expected to carry a starting price of Rs 13.5 lakh while the top-end should cost around Rs 18-lakh. We are anticipating slightly higher price as the vehicle will be India launched only next year. Post launch, the new Toyota Corolla will strongly compete against the likes of Chevrolet Cruze, Skoda Octavia, Volkswagen Jetta and Hyundai Elantra in the D-segment.
