Toyota has
revealed the first images and details of the new Corolla Touring Sports, a
longer version of the hatchback revealed at the Geneva show earlier this year.
Now stretched out to offer increased versatility and
interior space, the all-new Toyota Corolla Touring Sports is set to debut a
month from now at the Paris Auto Show. It’s been developed in Europe for the
European market at the company’s new Zaventem Design Centre in Belgium.
The elongated roofline rides on a 2700 mm wheelbase to offer what the manufacturer touts as “best-in-class rear seat
passenger legroom” and 598 liters of cargo capacity. That may
not be as much as a taller crossover SUV, but it ought to make the new Corolla
an even more enticing prospect to those seeking a bit more space in their
compact car.
Otherwise it’s essentially the same car as the
hatchback, offering an array of powertrain options. No diesels, just one
gasoline engine – a 1.2-liter turbo with 116 hp – joined by two hybrid
options: a 1.8-liter unit with 122 hp or a 2.0 with 180 hp.
The multilink rear suspension and available adaptive variable setup ought to
help keep it stable, even with a full load in the back.
The Touring Sports model will also offer four
two-tone finishes, thanks to the availability of a black roof and pillars.
We’ll have to wait on further details to be revealed closer to its debut in
Paris, but the bottom line is that European wagon fans can rest easy with the
imminent arrival of the new model on the marketplace.
