SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Toyota executives spent two hours prior to the unveiling of the 2014 Corolla with bungee cord-suspended gymnasts, women dancing sideways on a wall of aluminum foil and a floating clear-bottomed pool with Argentinian nymphs sliding and squishing inches over the heads of a puzzled. Then, when the crowd was fully amazed, unveiled its all-new 11th-generation Corolla, the latest iteration of its ubiquitous economical compact.
Even though Toyota executives proclaim that it is the best-selling car of all time, it had lagged in recent years behind the compact design competition.
Toyota struck back hard with the 2014 edition. Toyota seemed determined to sharpen its image from that of a provider of reliable, affordable and sometimes forgettable machines. This edition includes:
- A more-courageous, youth-oriented, more-confident Toyota.
- The 2014 Corolla gains about 4 inches in wheelbase, less than an inch in width and has a more-tapered aspect, with the front and rear sections stretched for a more elegant sweep of line and a more aerodynamic shape.
- LED low-beam headlights are standard on all models. The LEDs save energy and allow a lower, more tapered front corner for lighter weight, sleeker looks and more-slippery aerodynamics.
- The CVTi-S is a cornerstone of a new-for-2014 LE Eco model, which also features a new 1.8-liter, 140-horsepower engine with Valvematic, a technology that more closely controls intake valve lift and timing.
- Inside, the Corolla has been stretched, padded and pulled upscale, with the rear hip point moved back almost three inches.
Take a look at more photo angles of the 2014 Toyota Corolla
