Toyota Launches All-New Corolla and Matrix at SEMA

The Corolla and its 5-door liftback sibling, the Matrix are two extremely important vehicles for Toyota in North America.

Toyota couldn't have timed their launch at this year's SEMA show better, considering the rising price of gas and growing interest in compact cars.

The new Corolla looks very much like the European-market Corolla which we've been previewing for quite some time, though the Matrix is unlike anything we expected. Both the Corolla and Matrix are slightly larger than the vehicles they replace, and are new underneath with redesigned suspensions and chassis components. Both vehicles have maintained the same interior room, which is no bad thing considering the outgoing cars are spacious and comfortable.

The Corolla Standard, LE, XLE, and S models, as well as the Matrix Standard, S, and AWD (yes, all-wheel drive is back!) models are powered by a 1.8-liter inline-four with variable valve timing. It provides more power and torque without sacrificing fuel economy, a strong point. The high-performance XRS nameplate will make

a return for 2009, but will be completely different from the XRS models that came before. Instead of the potent albeit manic 1.8-liter engine derived from the old Celica GT-S, the new generation XRS cars are powered by a more relaxed, torque-rich 2.4-liter inline-four with 158 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. The 1.8-liter engine can be had with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, while the 2.4-liter XRS gets the manual and the option of a five-speed automatic.

As before, the Matrix and the Corolla feature very different interiors. The Corolla's cabin is more traditional with a conventional center console and floor mounted shifter, whereas the Matrix's seating position is higher up, featuring a console-mounted shifter and a dashboard that wraps around the driver for a cockpit-like feel. Once again the Matrix is a style leader, this time with an asymmetrical instrument cluster that is truly unique in the industry. Standard equipment is up on both cars, with the Corolla including a tilt and telescoping steering

column, folding rear seats and an auxiliary input jack as standard equipment, while the Matrix adds heated power side-view mirrors.

Toyota has upped safety equipment on both cars significantly. Base model cars now receive ABS brakes as standard equipment, while two front airbags, front side airbags as well as curtain airbags are also standard. Active front headrests come standard on all models too. In addition, XRS models will receive VSC stability control.

Pricing has yet to be announced for the new Corolla and Matrix, but you can bet your bottom dollar they're going to be competitive. Expect a slight price hike due to the increase in standard content, but it won't be by much. Considering the fact that a great deal of Toyota's sales are made up from the Matrix and Corolla, you can almost guarantee that the new, better equipped and more refined models will be hits.