Toyota brought the new Corolla sedan to North America for its
debut at the LA Auto Show, and revealed full details of its hybrid powertrain
in the process. While the Japanese automaker will continue offering
its mainstay economy sedan with conventional powertrain options, it’s also
rolling it out with a hybrid for the first time. Adapted from the Prius, the
powertrain combines a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated inline four with a pair of
electric motors and a continuously variable transmission.
The system delivers a combined output of 121
hp and fuel economy projected at upwards of 50 miles per
gallon. It also employs a new Hyper-Prime Nickel battery that sits flat under
the rear seats (instead of the trunk) for a lower center of gravity and better
packaging in the TNGA platform. And it incorporates a trick “preload”
differential that channels torque to each of the two front wheels individually
to combat the kind of “rubber-band” acceleration typical of many hybrids and
provide “linear acceleration response may take some by surprise.”
The Corolla Hybrid will feature
both Normal and Eco driving modes, as well as an EV mode for pure electric
motivation over short distances. But it also offers a Sport mode that increases
the amount of power available for acceleration. And the regenerative braking
system is designed to work with the shoes in the wheels to offer more stopping
power.
The Corolla Hybrid rides on its own set of 15-inch
alloys with low-rolling resistance tires, and offers all the safety and
infotainment technologies you’d expect from a major automaker’s latest product.
Pricing has yet to be announced for the US market, but you can expect to pay a
premium for the Corolla Hybrid over the conventional version as it joins
Toyota’s growing gasoline-electric lineup alongside the Prius, Prius Prime,
Prius C, the Mirai fuel-cell vehicle, and hybrid versions of the Camry, Avalon,
RAV4, and Highlander.
