The Toyota Auris, also known as the Corolla
Hatchback in the United States, was unveiled this month and gives us an inkling
of what the sedan version could look like. Who better, then, than rendering wizard Theophilus Chin to fire up his Photoshop machine and conjure
up a four-door version of the five-door?
The results are surprisingly well resolved. The new
Auris’ lower cowl gives it a flatter bonnet that goes well with the addition of
a boot, and the prominent rear haunches provide a visual punch that the current
Altis lacks. Meanwhile, the heavily sculpted rear end gives it a sporty flair,
and even with the polarising front end with that massive front grille and large
L-shaped headlights, this is still a handsome car.
Inside, the Corolla will likely carry over the
Auris’ C-HR-inspired layered dashboard design, with a floating infotainment
system, a wider and longer centre console and ample use of matte silver and
piano black accents. Under the skin, the Corolla will almost certainly ride on
the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) that is designed to offer a lower
centre of gravity than before.
The Auris comes in 1.2 litre turbo petrol, 1.8 litre
hybrid and 2.0 litre hybrid variants, while the Corolla Hatchback is offered
with just a 2.0 litre Dynamic Force engine and a choice of either a six-speed
manual gearbox or a new Direct Shift CVT with a launch gear. Expect the Corolla
to feature at least one of these powertrain options, although carryover 1.8
litre and 2.0 litre Dual VVT-i engines are not out of the question.
Cr : Paultan
