Spy Shots: 2008 Toyota Corolla
Well, it's not so much a spy shot as one of Motor Trend's
artist renderings, but we've always liked
the creative types at MT and they've been known to sketch best guesses that get pretty close to the real thing. This
pic appeared in the Sept. 2005 issues and MT Online just recently released it, as well. We bring it to your attention
as the small car segment in which the Corolla competes is fiercely competitive, and it's clear from this sketch that
Toyota is adopting a new corporate face, at least for small cars, the resembles what we've already seen on the upcoming
Yaris.
Quick bit of trivia – the Toyota Corolla is the best selling automoblile of all time, having surpassed the VW Bug in
the late Nineties.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sid Ghosh 11:05PM (12/18/2005)
This rendering was in a MotorTrend almost 3-4months ago.
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Robert Aitchison 11:05PM (12/18/2005)
They are going to need a wagon or at least a 5 door hatch to stay competitive in the post-SUV era.
That "could" be a 5 door hatch but it could be just another sedan.
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Greg Falco 11:05PM (12/18/2005)
The Corolla should be called the best-selling "nameplate" of all time. Looking at the various Corolla designs and country-specific iterations over the years, most people would have trouble recognizing them as being the "same" car. The VW Beetle, on the other hand, was always unmistakable - whether in the late 1940's or late 1970's.
But the car that really deserves the title of best-selling car of all time is the VW Golf. It had actually passed the Beetle's sales numbers before Toyota's claim. And the Golf has also not suffered from the Corolla's multiple-personality disorder.
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Mark Weber 11:05PM (12/18/2005)
I agree with Falco on the "Corolla's multiple-personality disorder". It's more of a name plate than a car; heck it started out as rear wheel drive. If you are going to include both RWD and FWD platforms, might as well lump the Old Beetle and Golf together.
That having been said, I think the Corolla is a fine car, with superb fuel economy, but shoot me if I ever buy one, it's a car I would recommend to my mom but not to my friends - as boring an appliance as you'll ever see.
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djSyndrome 11:05PM (12/18/2005)
"They are going to need a wagon or at least a 5 door hatch to stay competitive in the post-SUV era."
No word on whether we'll see a replacement Matrix (which is built on the Corolla platform and was originally referred to as the 'Corolla Matrix'), but it's a good bet as it's selling well for Toyota.
"But the car that really deserves the title of best-selling car of all time is the VW Golf. It had actually passed the Beetle's sales numbers before Toyota's claim."
And the Corolla passed the Golf the following year (1997). I definately agree that the Toyota Corolla nameplate has been stretched a little thin over the years, covering front-, rear- and all-wheel-drive vehicles, wagons, coupes, sedans, mini-minivans...the list goes on.
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Sid Ghosh 11:05PM (12/18/2005)
"That having been said, I think the Corolla is a fine car, with superb fuel economy, but shoot me if I ever buy one, it's a car I would recommend to my mom but not to my friends - as boring an appliance as you'll ever see."
Agreed!
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Robert Aitchison 11:05PM (12/18/2005)
Forgot about the Matrix/Vibe, not sure how closely based on the Corolla it is though.
It has available AWD, which the Corolla does not, also the non-AWD versions don't have independent rear suspension, with AFAIK all corollas have had since they went to FWD.
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Tony C 11:05PM (12/18/2005)
Greaaat business model, Motor Trend... You're now forcing people to watch a 30 second commercial to read a 5 second blurb just because it's in your new subscriber-based "Premium Content" area.
I suppose sooner or later, many of these online providers will take the same route eventually, so until then, I'll just walk away from the computer until the commercial ends.
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poulsbo 11:05PM (12/18/2005)
the matrix/vibe is built on the same platform as the corolla (no?) and for all intents and purposes is nearly identical on the inside. it is, however, a few inches shorter i noticed in parking next to one, which is odd.
blah blah blah with the corolla being "boring" - it's fine for most people's purposes (not everyone needs to race the guy next to them at a stoplight) and is cheaper than the civic (at least mine was, comparably equipped).
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Doogs 11:05PM (12/18/2005)
"I'll just walk away from the computer until the commercial ends."
I just skipped over to another window, read for a bit, came back, and the commercial was over.
At least they aren't dumb enough to ask us to pay for access.
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JustJase 11:05PM (12/18/2005)
Anything will be an improvement over the current snoozemobile Corolla. The are painfully boring cars. I had one a while back for a rental car out of town and after a week driving it I honestly couldn't believe people actually buy them.
Yes it was well assembled, but I've never driven anything will less personality (maybe the last gen Camry was close). Compared to cars in the class like the Mazda3, new Civic and even Kia Spectra, the Corolla is not a compelling choice in the least.
I think their sales success is based on people who simply want the Toyota name and don't give much thought to any other cars. They want an appliance, not a car.
The rendering looks like a huge improvement.
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Iain C 11:05PM (12/18/2005)
Toyota need to bring back the RWD Corolla if they did it would be a instant classic
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