News on the World's Most Important Car? The Corolla

Since 1997, Toyota snatched the title of world’s most popular car with theCorolla and has held on to it ever since. However, the world’s largest automaker hasn’t exactly been satisfied with the image that the car has created by being simple and reliable and now wants to spice things up. Similar to what occurred with the Camry, Toyota is taking a new approach to its Corolla, which is scheduled to launch as a model-year 2009 product during 2008.

Toyota has already branched out with its latest compact architecture, which will be shared with the Corolla and its international variants. While our Corolla is expected to retain the Corolla name and the four-door sedan body style, in Europe the car is called “Auris” and is only available as a hatchback. As for the Corolla-based Matrix, the replacement is expected to be the Japanese-market “Blade”, although it will retain its popular name just like it’s older Corolla brother.

Our Corolla will most likely debut with Toyota’s brand new 1.8-liter engine, which produces 128 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque, and is the same enginethat is used in the subcompact Scion xD. That’s not a huge gain over the outgoing engine, although it is expected to deliver even better fuel economy. The main problem that the Corolla will have going to market with this engine is its lack of power, especially when its key rival, the Honda Civic, and many of its competitors’ base engines generate around 140 horsepower, if not more. As for upper level models, the Corolla will be outclassed completely if it doesn’t upgrade. Toyota may choose to install the 2.4-liter, 158-hp inline-four from the Camry, which is a viable solution.

Most recently, Toyota launched the Master and Master G versions of the Blade in its home market packing one heck of an engine upgrade. Destined to compete against BMW’s 130i and Volkswagen’s R32, Toyotainstalled its powerful 3.5-liter engine from the Camry into the compact model. Although it is only available with an automatic transmission, larger brakes and a sports-tuned suspension system should allow the Blade to not only deal with the power, but go chasing after some of its rivals. The Corolla’s image has always been that of reliable, conservative transportation, but by introducing such a model here in North America, it’d be sure to change opinions.

It won’t be too long before we finally get a chance to see the North American market Toyota Corolla. While it is not expected to make its initial debut at a conventional auto show like L.A. or Detroit, the reportedly selected venue of SEMA this November should provide Toyota with the perfect opportunity to showcase tuned models to garner attention, in a similar manner to what Honda did during the year it launched the Civic Si.