Toyota is showing its commitment to an electrified future by now offering just hybrid powertrains for its Corolla.
Previously, the British-built hatch and estate were available with a 1.2-litre petrol engine but that has now been removed from the line-up. That leaves the choice of 1.8-litre or 2.0-litre petrol-electric powertrains.
Both are, in the words of Toyota, ‘self-charging’. This means that rather than plugging in to top up the car’s battery, it uses various sources of kinetic energy to recharge them on the move.
This move comes as Toyota introduces two new trim options for the Corolla. First is GR Sport, which brings a racier edge to the car inspired by Toyota performance division Gazoo Racing’s creations like the Supra and Yaris GRMN.
It has achieved this by introducing a new, sharper front bumper that includes a honeycomb mesh grille and piano black surrounds for the grille and fog lights. New 18-inch alloy wheels also feature GR-branded centre caps while at the rear of the car, a silver insert emulates a diffuser and dual-exhaust setup.
For the Corolla Touring Sports estate, customers can now opt for the rugged-looking TREK model. This SUV-influenced grade sees the ride height increased by 20mm while exterior changes include black edging for the front and rear bumpers along with a multitude of silver trimmings.
Order books for the overhauled Toyota Corolla range are now open, with first deliveries of the GR Sport and TREK scheduled for January.
