The Toyota Corolla is one of the best known nameplates in the Japanese carmaker’s history. Now, it appears development of the next-generation Corolla is well and truly underway, with the first-ever sighting of a test mule undergoing testing around Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States.

Toyota has gone through great lengths to make sure the prototype is covered in cladding in order to conceal styling details. However, there is evidence the Corolla might retain its two-tier front fascia, albeit milder in appearance when compared to its larger sedan sibling.


From the side, the new Corolla doesn’t appear to stray much in terms of size or shape, although the mirrors appear to have been moved further down. The downward-sloping rear end is something familiar as well, and those cut-outs in the camo around the taillights point towards a wraparound design.

The interior remains a mystery for now, but the upcoming 2019 Auris might provide some idea of what to expect. Thankfully, there are spyshots of a near production-ready Auris test mule from before, which show a heavily-covered cabin where only some elements are visible.

These include an overhauled dash, new interface for the climate control system, a smaller gear lever, new steering wheel design and what looks like a free-standing infotainment screen. The use of an electronic parking brake in the new Auris also sees a redesign of the centre console and attached arm rest.


The Toyota New Global Architecture will underpin both the new Auris and Corolla. Powertrain options should include a 1.8 litre four-cylinder petrol engine, with the probability of hybrid.

For the North American market. The current Corolla is available with a 2ZR-FE (132 hp/174 Nm) and a Valvematic-equipped 2ZR-FAE (140 hp/171 Nm) – the latter used for the Scion iM back then. We might also see a swap to a conventional automatic transmission from a CVT, like with the latest Camry.

Cr : Paultan