TMC Launches Redesigned Corolla Series in Japan

Company press release.

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces the launch in Japan today of the redesigned 'Corolla Axio' sedan and ''Corolla Fielder'*1 station wagon. The vehicles will be sold across Japan through 'Toyota Corolla' dealers.

Since its debut in 1966, the Corolla has been designed to prioritize peace of mind, practicality, and ease of use with the aim of creating value that adapts to the times. The Corolla has become a favorite of consumers around the world, with cumulative global sales exceeding 39 million vehicles*2, making it the world's best-selling vehicle.

The redesign of the Corolla Axio and Corolla Fielder sought a return to the Corolla's origins. Both vehicles were completely revamped to minimize body size while maintaining the ability to safely and comfortably transport four adults over long distances, thereby achieving a perfect fit for compact cars in the Japanese market.

The Corolla Axio and Corolla Fielder are manufactured for the Japanese market at Central Motor Co., Ltd.'s cutting-edge Miyagi Plant in the Tohoku region, which began operations last year. TMC has positioned this region as its third domestic production base alongside Chubu and Kyushu and will establish a new production subsidiary, Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc.*3, on July 1 to serve as a comprehensive vehicle manufacturer specializing in compact cars, with the ability to perform all functions from vehicle planning and development to production.

Spacious and Compact

Under the concept of a compact car with an abundance of interior space, TMC reduced the length of the Corolla Axio by 50 mm (60 mm for Corolla Fielder), maintaining the highly maneuverable compact body while still expanding the rear-seat knee space by 40 mm for a roomy and comfortable interior. Luggage space in the Corolla Fielder was boosted by 90 mm, enabling stowage of items of up to 410 mm in length with the rear seats folded down.

Minimum turning radius has been reduced by 0.2 m to 4.9 m*4, facilitating easier driving on narrow roads and effortless maneuvering in parking lots and garages.

Various structural and design improvements, such as a windshield deeply rounded to the sides, rear-shifted and narrowed front pillars, and door-mounted side mirrors provide a broad field of vision for safe driving.

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Functional and Stylish Universal Design

Exterior Design

Corolla Axio

The Axio maintains the sense of quality and prestige—the inherent appeal of sedans—by combining a functional and compact body with an original and stylish form, signifying the advent of a new stage in the history of this storied model.

The full and sturdy front-end gives the image and stature of a higher-class vehicle, while the side view presents a curved silhouette that expresses a sense of energy that is carried over in the tautness employed in the rear styling.

Corolla Fielder

The Fielder's compact body and active, youthful, and stylish exterior pursues the dynamism that is the fundamental appeal of a wagon.

The newness of the front face is immediately noticeable, while the side silhouette emphasizes the vehicle's dynamism and the rear sports sharp, tactile features.

The rear door is made of resin to reduce weight, thus simplifying operation. In addition, the use of easily recycled materials reduces environmental impact.

Interior Design

Thorough consideration was given to spaciousness and ease of use, and the high quality can be sensed the minute the door is opened. The center console features switches at naturally-accessible locations and angles, the instrument gauges have highly readable figures and symbols, and the tall, L-shaped door handles are easy to grasp, creating a highly-functional interior that places items in occupants' natural line of vision.

Storage spaces have been designed with an eye toward day-to-day convenience, with easily accessible front cup holders, door pockets, front and rear bottle holders, and coin pockets.

Deck boards and package tray trim are made from natural kenaf, reducing the vehicle's environmental footprint.

Color Design

The Corolla Axio is available in seven body colors including the new and sophisticated Mellow Silver Metallic, and the Corolla Fielder is also available in seven body colors including the rich and sophisticated hue of the new Dark Violet Mica Metallic.

Interior color options for the Corolla Axio feature a choice between a relaxed beige or a modern gray. The Corolla Fielder sports a dynamic black.

Outstanding Driving and Environmental Performance

The Corolla Axio is powered by a new, highly efficient 1.3-liter 1NR-FE engine. The Dual VVT-i*5 technology optimizes both intake and exhaust to achieve high torque at low and mid-range speeds and high output at high speeds. The new engine enables agile driving with high fuel efficiency (20.6 km/L under the JC08 test cycle of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)) during city cruising.

The 1.5-liter 1NZ-FE engine has been greatly improved with higher fuel efficiency and reduced friction and also includes a newly developed Super CVT-I*6, which substantially improves power transmission. Like its predecessors, the new Super CVT-i minimizes shift shock, providing smooth acceleration and rapid response. In addition, integrated control with the engine contributes to high fuel efficiency (Axio: 20.0 km/L, Fielder: 19.6 km/L; both under the MLIT JC08 test cycle).

The Toyota Stop & Start System (available as an option on 1.5-liter 2WD Super CVT-i models) is an idling-stop function that automatically shuts the engine off at traffic lights and other temporary stops, further improving fuel efficiency (Axio: 21.4 km/L, Fielder: 21.2 km/L; both under the MLIT JC08 test cycle).

A new CVT Sports Mode (available on 1.8-liter Corolla Fielder models) provides brisk acceleration and shifting, as well as improved responsiveness during re-acceleration. In addition, a new G AI-Shift uses vehicle G-sensors to detect deceleration and turning force, enabling the AI to automatically downshift when entering a corner and to limit unnecessary up shifting when cornering.

An improved 1.8-liter 2ZR-FAE engine features an enhanced valvematic function that reduces pumping losses and engine-part friction to substantially improve fuel efficiency (16.6 km/L under the MLIT JC08 test cycle). In addition, integrated control with the Super CVT-i was reinforced to enhance acceleration performance.

Vehicles equipped with the 1.3-liter engine meet 2015 fuel efficiency standards*7 and 1.5-liter front-wheel-drive vehicles with Super CVT-i exceed 2015 fuel efficiency standards by 5 percent and by 10 percent with the idling-stop function. As a result, when combined with certification for emission levels 75 percent lower than the 2005 standards under the MLIT approval system for low-emission vehicles, all new Corollas qualify for tax incentives under the Japanese government's tax system for environment-friendly vehicles and its Green Taxation System.

Improved Amenities

The driver's seat features seat ventilation and heaters (standard on the 1.5-liter Luxel Corolla Axio), enabling cool air flow from the seat and back on warm days, and heating for the driver's shoulders, back and legs on cold days.

Also standard on the 1.5-liter Luxel Corolla Axio is a new feature that enables automatic mirror stowage and deployment in tandem with door locking and unlocking, thereby eliminating the need for switch operation when entering or exiting the vehicle. In addition, a new reverse-link function gives the driver the ability to see objects such as parking space lines by automatically angling the mirrors towards the rear tires when the vehicle is in reverse.

All Corolla models feature illuminated mirror controls for easy operation at night.

Air conditioning with nanoe*8 ionizer disperses negative ions embedded in minute water droplets from the driver-side vent throughout the vehicle interior. In addition, a new climate function eliminates pollen from the passenger space with the touch of a button.

Simple and functional steering-wheel-mounted controls allow the driver to adjust audio system volume, song selection, and other functions without releasing their hold on the steering wheel.

An interior light cut-off system is standard on all models to turn off interior lights if they are left on for 20 minutes after parking.

Highest Levels of Safety Performance

All redesigned Corolla models feature an omni-directional compatibility body structure that minimizes body deformation even in collisions with larger vehicles, and new pedestrian-injury-reducing features such as impact-absorbing hoods and bumpers that serve to minimize injuries afflicted on pedestrians in the event of a collision.

The use of three-point seat belts with pre-tensioners and force limiters (front seats and left and right rear seats), Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) concept seats, and an SRS airbag system with a total of six airbags including SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags*9 provide the redesigned Corolla models with overall safety performance equal to a five-star rating*10 under the Japan New Car Assessment Program.

Standard on all models, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) manages engine output and the brakes to maintain vehicle stability during vehicle skidding, and Traction Control (TRC) provides easy accelerator control to prevent wheel-spin when accelerating and starting from a stop.

A new High Intensity Discharge lamp (HID) View Assist Package, available on some grades, combines multiple features to improve nighttime visibility and reduce driver interference. Features include:

- Automatic high beams with camera sensor detect bright light during night-driving, automatically switching from high beams to low beams to ensure front visibility

- Automatic anti-glare rearview mirror with embedded sensor detects light from behind and adjusts mirror reflectivity accordingly to help maintain driver visibility

- Projector-type discharge headlights (with low-beam auto-leveling function) offer twice the illumination of standard halogen lights to improve nighttime visibility