2018 Toyota Corolla

In Geneva, it is still presented as Auris, as the picture above and the first two videos below demonstrate. Of course, the famous name 'Corolla' was already used for the sedan and in some markets for the Auris. At least since the Paris Motor Show, the Auris models now carry this name. It is available as hatchback, station wagon (Touring Sports) and sedan, the latter with normal 1.6L gasoline engine and 6-speed.

The hybrid drive undoubtedly has a better image for the future and is at least annually more accepted at Toyota, most recently in Europe with 41 percentage. For this year you even expect 47 percent. The new Corolla shares the TNGA platform with the Prius and the C-HR.

In addition to the Prius drive train with 1.8 liters and 90 kW (122 hp), it will be the first time a second hybrid with 2 liters and 132 kW (180 hp). Two hybrid versions we only know from the Mercedes E-Class until now. The smaller of the two should cover 'up to 50 percent of typical everyday traffic', whatever that means. The size of the Metal hydrid battery is still not revealed. It will not be insignificant for pricing and has recently been steadily smaller. In any case, the vehicle does not have a power connection.

The larger of the two hybrids probably eliminates more the slight lack of dynamic in the Toyota hybrids, probably trending slightly more towards Lexus interpretation of a hybrid drive. You pay according to the CO₂ data with significantly more than 10 percent additional consumption.

A 1.2-liter petrol engine with 85 kW (116 hp) is left over from the four pure combustion engines offered up to now, a turbo that is more likely to follow the downsizing principle, so to speak as an entry-level model, albeit only to the Toyota car dealers. In just over 20 years, Toyota has sold more than 1.5 million electrified cars, a good base for offering two in a vehicle for the first time.

The Corolla, actually the third Auris generation, hybridized since 2010, has received 4 inches more wheelbase and length. The overhangs have remained accordingly. The width has increased by 3 cm, the height decreased by 4 cm, of which the center of gravity is 2 cm. The waistline was lowered by almost 5 cm.

The front is clearly changed. The flatter hood ends earlier now. The widened headlights frame a pushed forward, huge grille, bounded below by a successful three-part spoiler allusion. The roof decclines backwards a bit stronger than in the previous model, so that Toyota can speak of a 'fastback'.

The lower window line now only rises at the very end, which brings a little more tension into the side surfaces. Amazing that the 'X' re-emerges a bit more in the rear design, luckily not too much. Again, the waistline was optically pulled down.

Due to the much larger rear window, the arrangement and size of the windscreen wiper is now much more favourably. The new full-LED rear lights prove that less can often be more. The opener for the tailgate extends towards the user. However, the threshold for loading seems to have increased. 10/18