AE112 Series II Corolla

Once the last locally made Corolla left the showrooms, Toyota extended the range of its Japanese-built AE112 series.

A very conservatively styled four-door sedan joined the facelifted liftback models. Both featured a new nose cone and revised cabin trim.

Toyota also successfully challenged Nissan’s keenly priced Pulsar with the $19,990 Ascent from early 2000, while a sporty Levin liftback model featured anti-lock brakes and a bodykit.

All were powered by yet another improved version of the 85kW 7A-FE 1.8-litre engine. In early 2001, 100 Sportivo versions of the Levin liftback were imported, powered by a 115kW turbocharged version of the 1.8-litre engine.

All arrived in a metallic gold hue. The AE112 Corolla continued until the all-new, Celica-based ZZE122 series burst onto the market in December 2001.