Make every impression last
Completely redesigned with care and precision, and infused with a dynamism that comes from innovative design and technology, our new sedan exudes elegance, power and style from every line, every surface. Make a statement in style with the All-New Corolla Altis.
The Toyota Corolla is a legendary car. Since the introduction of the first car sporting the Corolla name in 1966, over 30 million units have been sold. Everybody who knows what a car is has heard of the name Corolla.
Since the launch of the first generation model in 1966, the Corolla has undergone ten generations of advancements, culminating in the latest 2008 Corolla Altis. This remarkable sedan is taken to new heights of elegance and sophistication with innovations in styling and engineering technology.
The all new Corolla Altis is truly a Marque of Distinction for its proud owners. Importantly, all drivers can have absolute confidence in the world-renowned Toyota DNA, namely Quality, Durability and Reliability. Today, it is the No.1 selling car in the world with over 30 million units sold cumulatively in 143 countries.
But while the Corolla has been synonymous with dependability, it has never been an exciting car. Toyota have played it safe with each successive generation of Corolla and while this has been a successful strategy, it seems that Toyota are keen to shake off the conservative image and the stigma that has begun to attach itself to the Corolla nameplate.
With the 10th generation Corolla due for a Thai release sometime this year, let's take the time to have a look at what we can expect from the 2008 Corolla Altis. How will it differ from the current model ?
The all new Corolla Altis is truly a Marque of Distinction for its proud owners. Importantly, all drivers can have absolute confidence in the world-renowned Toyota DNA, namely Quality, Durability and Reliability. Today, it is the No.1 selling car in the world with over 30 million units sold cumulatively in 143 countries.
Toyota seem very keen to change the Corolla image with the 10th generation sedan. And as you can see from the images on this site the design for the new Corolla is a dramatic departure from the succession of dull, anonymously styled models that we've come to expect. Is it beautiful? No. But it is interesting, and we will settle for that. Finally a Corolla with a personality of its own. Previously Corollas always looked like Toyota had taken all the most boring design elements from other manufacturers and dulled them down even further to insure that there was nothing particularly outstanding or different.
Recent model releases have revealed a new direction for Toyota, and the Corolla Altis will follow this trend with styling borrowed from the Camry.
Recent model releases have revealed a new direction for Toyota, and the Corolla Altis will follow this trend with styling borrowed from the Camry.
But the exterior changes, though important and significant, are only the beginning. And if the 2008 Altis isn't altered too much from the European/Japanese and American Corolla specifications, then it is going to be a very exciting car indeed.
The first point has to be about the engines. I'm going to cut straight to it here: they are the old engines. Yes, seemingly TMT (Toyota Motors Thailand) find no reason to deliver the new Dual VVT-i engines employed in the Japanese and American markets. So, the new Altis has an ageing engine line-up, but apart from that, and the exterior door handles that seem to be taken straight off the Vios, the rest of it looks mostly new.
The 1.6 litre 3ZZ-FE and the 1.8 litre 1ZZ-FE units have power output of 109 hp and 132 hp respectively, both achieving this peek at 6,000 RPM. Both units now support E20, although this is not reflected in the pricing the way I'd hoped. For example the base model 1.6 J MT is now THB 709,000 which is THB 4,000 more than the outgoing model at THB 705,000! Considering that Toyota are enjoying a 5% tax reduction from the E20 support, it seems strange that the price needs to go up! But things improve as you move up the range, and the price tops out at THB 969,000 for the range topping 1.8 G.
Dual VVT-i Engine(s)
Toyota engines have been leading the way in terms of refinement and efficiency of late, and this is set to continue with the use of new dual VVT-i engines in the 2008 Altis. While I'm not certain at this time, it would seem logical for Toyota to make use of the new dual VVT-i technology in the Altis, with the 1.6 liter 1ZR-FE and 1.8 liter 2ZR-FE being the two likely options for the Thai market.
The 1.6 liter should produce a healthy 124 hp, while we can expect the 1.8 to be around 140hp, on par with the 1.8 liter Civic power output. But the 1.6 will represent the bulk of the sales here.
The dual VVT-i engines take Toyota's cam shaft variation one step further, allowing independent cam shaft variation for both intake and exhaust timing using one electro-hydraulic variation system for each of the cam shafts.
In the case of the 1.6-liter the torque curve dual VVT-i system enables a very flat torque curve, which stays above 140 Nm from 2,000 rpm right up to 6,000 rpm, with peak torque of 157 Nm at 5,200 rpm.
This characteristic of the engine will mean smooth and powerful acceleration from low engine speeds and excellent top-end power. The new European Corolla uses the 1.6 dual VVT-i engine to achieve fuel economy figures of 15km/l in the European combined fuel cycle.
Although the 1.8 liter will offer even more power, the 1.6 is plenty capable, with 0-100km in just under 10.5 seconds, and a top speed of 195 km/h.
The European Corolla has some interesting features that might be discarded for the Thai model. Among them is a Formula 1 style gear change indication light which shows the driver the optimum moment to change gears. This feature is only on the manual version (obviously), and since manual transmission are reserved for the budget trim levels in Thailand, it's safe to assume that we won't see this sort of feature. According to Toyota, following the advise of this system will result in around a 5% increase in fuel economy.
High end models which are fitted out with cruise control will have a "speed limiter" feature. The driver can set the maximum permitted speed, for example 120 km/m for expressway driving, and will be able to accelerate normally until the car reaches this speed. The system can be over ridden in case of emergency by simply kicking down on the gas.
Also on the high end models we can expect to see the MultiMode transmission with automatic selection, or manual sequential selection available through steering wheel mounted shift paddles. This is akin to the system in the top-of-the-range Civic, and will probably be a 5-speed box.
The current Corolla Altis is excellent at smoothing out bumps in Bangkok roads, but this ride quality comes at the expense of driver involvement. The new 2008 Altis should change all that, thanks to brand new suspension, and a new electric steering system.
A newly-developed L-arm MacPherson strut is a compact and rigid solution, which brings the suspension strut in-board of the wheel hub to improve noise and vibration suppression. This design should also improve straight line stability, and steering responsiveness.
Rear suspension is by way of a new torsion beam which is a popular arrangement as it allows increased boot space. The suspension layout separates the coil spring and damper while allowing a wider track for the cargo area.
The new Electric Power Steering (EPS) should provide a high level of control, and make for easy work around town. Additionally, the EPS system contributes to fuel economy since it only uses power when steering force assistance is needed, and since it doesn't require hydraulic fluid, it is also more environmentally friendly than conventional power steering systems.
A standard feature that should carry over (as standard) is the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. There is really no good reason to skimp when it comes to safety equipment, and ABS makes a big difference.
The Altis will also likely have Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Traction Control (TRC) on the options list.
The interior should resemble these images quite closely, however some details could be borrowed from the Japanese model, which is a little more conservative than the European Corolla.
The all new Corolla Altis is truly a Marque of Distinction for its proud owners. Importantly, all drivers can have absolute confidence in the world-renowned Toyota DNA, namely Quality, Durability and Reliability. Today, it is the No.1 selling car in the world with over 30 million units sold cumulatively in 143 countries.
10th Generation.
Toyota seem very keen to change the Corolla image with the 10th generation sedan. And as you can see from the images on this site the design for the new Corolla is a dramatic departure from the succession of dull, anonymously styled models that we've come to expect. Is it beautiful? No. But it is interesting, and we will settle for that. Finally a Corolla with a personality of its own. Previously Corollas always looked like Toyota had taken all the most boring design elements from other manufacturers and dulled them down even further to insure that there was nothing particularly outstanding or different.
Recent model releases have revealed a new direction for Toyota, and the Corolla Altis will follow this trend with styling borrowed from the Camry.
Recent model releases have revealed a new direction for Toyota, and the Corolla Altis will follow this trend with styling borrowed from the Camry.
But the exterior changes, though important and significant, are only the beginning. And if the 2008 Altis isn't altered too much from the European/Japanese and American Corolla specifications, then it is going to be a very exciting car indeed.
What about the engine of Toyota Altis 2008
The first point has to be about the engines. I'm going to cut straight to it here: they are the old engines. Yes, seemingly TMT (Toyota Motors Thailand) find no reason to deliver the new Dual VVT-i engines employed in the Japanese and American markets. So, the new Altis has an ageing engine line-up, but apart from that, and the exterior door handles that seem to be taken straight off the Vios, the rest of it looks mostly new.
The 1.6 litre 3ZZ-FE and the 1.8 litre 1ZZ-FE units have power output of 109 hp and 132 hp respectively, both achieving this peek at 6,000 RPM. Both units now support E20, although this is not reflected in the pricing the way I'd hoped. For example the base model 1.6 J MT is now THB 709,000 which is THB 4,000 more than the outgoing model at THB 705,000! Considering that Toyota are enjoying a 5% tax reduction from the E20 support, it seems strange that the price needs to go up! But things improve as you move up the range, and the price tops out at THB 969,000 for the range topping 1.8 G.
Dual VVT-i Engine(s)
The 1.6 liter should produce a healthy 124 hp, while we can expect the 1.8 to be around 140hp, on par with the 1.8 liter Civic power output. But the 1.6 will represent the bulk of the sales here.
The dual VVT-i engines take Toyota's cam shaft variation one step further, allowing independent cam shaft variation for both intake and exhaust timing using one electro-hydraulic variation system for each of the cam shafts.
In the case of the 1.6-liter the torque curve dual VVT-i system enables a very flat torque curve, which stays above 140 Nm from 2,000 rpm right up to 6,000 rpm, with peak torque of 157 Nm at 5,200 rpm.
This characteristic of the engine will mean smooth and powerful acceleration from low engine speeds and excellent top-end power. The new European Corolla uses the 1.6 dual VVT-i engine to achieve fuel economy figures of 15km/l in the European combined fuel cycle.
Although the 1.8 liter will offer even more power, the 1.6 is plenty capable, with 0-100km in just under 10.5 seconds, and a top speed of 195 km/h.
F1 inspired gear changes
The European Corolla has some interesting features that might be discarded for the Thai model. Among them is a Formula 1 style gear change indication light which shows the driver the optimum moment to change gears. This feature is only on the manual version (obviously), and since manual transmission are reserved for the budget trim levels in Thailand, it's safe to assume that we won't see this sort of feature. According to Toyota, following the advise of this system will result in around a 5% increase in fuel economy.
High end models which are fitted out with cruise control will have a "speed limiter" feature. The driver can set the maximum permitted speed, for example 120 km/m for expressway driving, and will be able to accelerate normally until the car reaches this speed. The system can be over ridden in case of emergency by simply kicking down on the gas.
Also on the high end models we can expect to see the MultiMode transmission with automatic selection, or manual sequential selection available through steering wheel mounted shift paddles. This is akin to the system in the top-of-the-range Civic, and will probably be a 5-speed box.
All-new suspension
The current Corolla Altis is excellent at smoothing out bumps in Bangkok roads, but this ride quality comes at the expense of driver involvement. The new 2008 Altis should change all that, thanks to brand new suspension, and a new electric steering system.
A newly-developed L-arm MacPherson strut is a compact and rigid solution, which brings the suspension strut in-board of the wheel hub to improve noise and vibration suppression. This design should also improve straight line stability, and steering responsiveness.
Rear suspension is by way of a new torsion beam which is a popular arrangement as it allows increased boot space. The suspension layout separates the coil spring and damper while allowing a wider track for the cargo area.
The new Electric Power Steering (EPS) should provide a high level of control, and make for easy work around town. Additionally, the EPS system contributes to fuel economy since it only uses power when steering force assistance is needed, and since it doesn't require hydraulic fluid, it is also more environmentally friendly than conventional power steering systems.
Safety
The Corolla has achieved a 5-star rating on the Euro NCAP safety test. However, it is unlikely that the Thai model will come with all nine (9) airbags available in the European market, but it is possible that they will be optional at the high end.A standard feature that should carry over (as standard) is the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. There is really no good reason to skimp when it comes to safety equipment, and ABS makes a big difference.
The Altis will also likely have Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Traction Control (TRC) on the options list.
Interior
The interior should resemble these images quite closely, however some details could be borrowed from the Japanese model, which is a little more conservative than the European Corolla.
Performing beautifully in any condition
The intelligent VVT-i engine, superb handling and suspension system provide you with the optimum balance of power, control and ride comfort. Expect nothing less than an exhilarating drive with road-hugging turns, easy maneuverability, improved fuel economy, and more.
