First look: Corolla facelift heads our way

THIS is the new face of the Toyota Corolla, Australia's biggest selling small car.

Examples of the facelift will start flowing into Australia early in the second half of 2004, but it will take a couple of months for the whole range to be updated.

The mainstream range of hatches and the wagon will arrive around July, but the sedan and Sportivo hot hatch will not get here until sometime between September and November.

The staggered arrivals are due to production schedules at the different plants where we source our Corollas.

Hatches come from South Africa and wagons and sedans from Japan.

Changes are not extensive, with exterior modifications limited to a new grille, new bonnet, new fender and teardrop headlights reminiscent of the updated Echo launched in the first quarter.

Sportivo will continue to be fitted with a bodykit.

There is also a slightly revised rear-end, while inside the car is little changed.

There are no significant changes expected to the line-up in terms of equipment, pricing or mechanical details.

The entire range – except for the 140kW Sportivo – is powered by a 100kW 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine.

Despite the relatively minor changes, there’s no doubt Toyota will make a big deal out of the update to Australia’s biggest selling small car, as this year is a new model drought for the company.

A facelifted Camry should also appear in the third quarter and that will just about be it for the 2004. That car will have its styling tweaked locally by Paul Beranger and his team and there is the prospect of a new grade being added to the line-up.

But 2005 will ignite quickly with Hi-Ace, Hi-Lux and Lexus GS all expected to be launched in the first quarter.