Enter the (drivetrain) rumormill: V6, AWD Corolla on the horizon?
Our friends over at the Authority of all things Motored came across an interesting interview with Soichiro Okudaira, a Toyota technician, who maintains that the next Corolla may have a large enough engine bay to fit a 3.5-liter V6. The idea is being batted around ToMoCo's executive washroom, along with the possibility of offering an all-wheel-drive variant of Toyota's compact sedan.
AWD-equipped Corollas (named the Auris in other parts of the world) are nothing new, as they've been offered in Japan before, but aside from the Corolla 4Trac of yesteryear, we haven't had an AWD option for some time (Matrix excluded). Okudaira says that more R-and-D is necessary, as the rear wheel setup still has to be augmented to accept the new drivetrain components.
European buyers will surely get a diesel version when the new Corolla is released, while those of us in the U.S. are destined to get a petrol-powerplant. If the V6 gets the green light, Motor Authority expects the new Corolla to be launched in the States later this year.
[Source: AutoTelegraaf.nl via Motor Authority]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
gsolman6 1:53PM (5/24/2007)
Bad idea for many reasons. One is confuses the public as to what the Coralla's mission is. Two, it will run up against new fuel economy rules. Three, it will run up against high fuel prices. Four, the looks will not back up the performance. Five, it will probably have large amounts of torque steer. Six, a 2 liter turbo could have the same hp but with less cost, weight, and fuel consumption. Any questions?
JGN 9:47AM (5/24/2007)
That would completely change the Corolla from a small econo car to something with more race potential. I wonder what their goal is.
Reply
Calebe 10:17AM (5/24/2007)
How about a diesel. High torque and good mpg.
Reply
Sammy B 9:59AM (5/24/2007)
I think this is a great direction for toyota to go. I just hope they offer a more enthusiast oriented model. AWD, V6, and a MANUAL transmission. That is all I ask for. What with the low insurance for toyota corollas overall, you would have an affordable hit on your hand. Price it in the mid 20's and it could be a real sales leader.
Reply
Guenther 9:59AM (5/24/2007)
So I'm the only one who (fondly) remembers the corolla All-trac? Those things were awesome. A compact car with the RAV4 powertrain stuffed into it could be very entertaining... and still return economy numbers in the high 20's.
Reply
Seminole 10:06AM (5/24/2007)
The V6 would move it to a completely new level. People may opt for the V6 Corolla rather than a I4 Camry. I can't really decide if this is a good move or a bad move on Toyota's part.
Reply
hashiryu 10:13AM (5/24/2007)
No. This would not affect Camry sales. for one, it won't have as much interior space as a Camry and secondly, its likely to be a performance version of the corolla.... last I checked, not that many people, if any, buy the camry looking for a sporty experience
epilonious 10:14AM (5/24/2007)
It seems Toyota is intent on doing the same thing to the Corolla that Honda did to the Civic: Bigger and More Expensive with random extra features.
Toyota already has packed the "quirky econobox" stables with Scions and the Yaris, so they are probably gonna upscale the corolla so Toyota Faithful who bought one a couple of gens ago who aren't ready to make that jump to a Camry will be tempted to drop an extra $3-4000 on their next one.
While I'm not _thrilled_ that the corolla might be getting fatter, more expensive, and less efficient, I still look forward to a hybrid corolla.
Reply
rrr 10:24AM (5/24/2007)
I think that this is just a concept. With gas being $$$4 no way can Toyota make a V6.
Civic is a great car, i have it, but it has an I4, which is why it is fast AND efficient.
Corolla needs to be what it is, ECONOBOX. If someone wants something faster or cooler get Scion or Matrix.
Reply
gfarre gfdgd 10:38AM (5/24/2007)
Last 30th April I saw in a road which goes from Andorra (Andorra) to Barcelona (Spain) what was suppossed to be an Auris with a wider track, fully covered with black mask all over the car. It had belgian plates –Toyota Europe is based at Belgium–. And right behing following it there where a Toyota Rav4 and a Lexus IS, also with belgian plates, with people inside working on laptops.
5 minutes later in the same direction of them –not mine– appeared a IS-F with a very light mask in the front. Blue paint, gold rims and two big tail-pipes. Probably all them where the development team of hot Toyota and Lexus versions.
Reply
Bob-o 10:47AM (5/24/2007)
Yaris is the new ultra-econobox. This gives room for the Corolla to move up.
Hell, the RAV4 has a 270 hp V6, why can't this? :)
Reply
Mo 4:06PM (5/24/2007)
It would be nice if they give us a 5dr hatch instead of another boring sedan. The V6 seems like overkill in this thing though.
Reply
Brandon 9:57PM (2/04/2008)
As much as I like the sound of a awd V6 corolla, I think if they made it RWD kept the 4 cylinder and allowed the traction control and other devices to be turned off it would be better. Just give it two doors and kept it light like the old AE86's.
Reply
geo.stewart 11:12AM (5/24/2007)
dont see a V6 in the corollas future. they MIGHT get froggy and do a turbo 4 and try to do a rally version. A 3.5 V6 would not play in that space but what a bullet it would make.
anything is better than the anemic 4 in it now.
Toyota stole from the Ford Focus playbook and has left this one to die on the vine.
Reply
jgp 11:25AM (5/24/2007)
AWD + V6 = R32 fighter
Wow. Toyota's actually doing something impressive that isn't bound to their home market.
Reply
Aprime 12:15PM (5/24/2007)
The Corolla isn't an econobox, the Aveo is.
Compacts and sub-compacts aren't the same, get your stuff right.
Reply
MikeW 12:16PM (5/24/2007)
Can Toyota just make the corolla get good mileage and not be slow.
They have a new 1.8 with variable exhaust & intake valve timing. Now couple that to a 6 speed automatic.
The 2gr-fe is too much for the Camry, four wheel struts come on. 275hp routed to, at most, 215 width tires. Get real.
Now it would be nice to have the Camry standard with a 4gr-fe (2.5 liter V6 ~185hp) with an optional 3gr-fe (3 liter ~225hp) 6 speed auto standard.
Reply
Rick Lyon 12:31PM (5/24/2007)
Yea, they need this to compete with the V6 Civics, V6 Sentras, and V6 Mazda3s. Oh wait...
Reply
Bojack 12:34PM (5/24/2007)
Yes yes yes Toyota, make everything bigger and put bigger engines and more expensive components into your cars. You're well on your way to becoming Japanese General Motors.
Reply
Kri 12:36PM (5/24/2007)
There used to be an AWD version of the Corolla in Europe as well.
As for the Auris likely to have a diesel in Europe, it does, even one with 180hp. That one also gets a multilink rear suspension instead of a torsion beam one, making it much nicer to drive.
Reply