Toyota plans 2017 Corolla sedan rejig

DON’T say you weren’t warned – Toyota is planning a facelift for the sedan version of its top-selling Corolla … next year.

The revised version is set to get a new nose and a few other revisions, including new safety technology as standard equipment on the up-spec ZR variant and as an option on the mainstream Ascent and SX.

The four-door small car will go on sale in the first quarter of 2017, bringing its design into line with current Toyota fashion that includes a larger lower air opening in the front fascia, along with a smaller grille above it, topped by a sweeping chrome garnish running from headlight to headlight.

Just to be clear, the rejigged sedan for Australia is not the Corolla just unveiled by Toyota USA at the New York motor show. That car has its own front “mask”, separate from the vehicle sold here and in Europe.

To avoid confusion, it seems Toyota Australia thought it best to provide a peek at the 2017 version of the local hero, well ahead of its usual launch practice.

Anyway, the changes are so mild that they are unlikely to scare the horses and upset Corolla’s lunge for a fourth consecutive crown as Australia’s top-selling car.

The styling changes are destined only for the sedan, as the popular hatch received its mid-life makeover in the middle of last year.

The chrome-laden ZR gets the bulk of the serious changes that include new LED headlights and daytime running lights, plus a package of safety technologies such as pre-collision warning, lane departure alert and automatic high beam.

Toyota Australia executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the revised sedan would further boost the appeal and value of Australia's best-selling car.

"Close to a quarter of all Corollas sold in Australia last year were sedans, and the advanced design and new technology offered in this upgrade is further proof of Toyota's commitment to Kaizen, the process of continuous improvement," he said.

So far this year, the Corolla is lagging behind arch rival Mazda3, 7076 to 6213, mainly due to a sluggish January.

The Corolla hatch is scheduled to get a petrol-electric hybrid variant in the middle of the year.

Pricing and full specification for the hybrid hatch and revised sedan are yet to be spelled out.