The wait is finally over as Toyota has launched the 12th generation of its best-selling and most popular Corolla Altis in Taiwan on 27th March 2019, a few months after the unveiling in China last year.
Toyota Corolla Altis 2019 was first unveiled at the Guangzhou Auto Show held in November 2018 in China which makes Taiwan the second auto market to receive the next generation model of the all-new Toyota Corolla Altis. Toyota has a special place for Corolla as it contributes to 20% of sales of the entire setup of the company. To get started, it’s important to mention here that the ‘Prestige’ styled model has been launched in Taiwan, the other one being the ‘Sporty’ look model introduced in the Japanese and the US markets. It indicates that the other countries in the ASEAN region would also get the ‘Prestige’ look of the all-new Toyota Corolla Altis. This particular prestige look relates to the design language much similar to the all-new Camry. However, it has received a major redesign both outside and inside of the model with new engine options. The launch in Taiwan means that it won’t take long before Corolla makes its way to other countries of the region including the Philippines. Let’s quickly jump to the next section to have a look at what the new model launched in Taiwan offers.
Power train:
The 12th generation of Toyota Corolla Altis launched in Taiwan comes in two engine options. The first one is a 1.8-litre 2ZR-FE engine coupled with a Super CVT which can produce a maximum power of 140 hp and 173 NM of torque. The second variant is the hybrid version that comes in 1.8-litre engine cranked to an E-CVT that produces 122 hp. Toyota Taiwan claims that this particular variant is capable of self-charging too.
Exterior:
As we look at the new Toyota Corolla 2019 from the front, it has a large centre intake and certain styling cues that match the other models of Toyota. The dynamic headlights accompanied by the fog lights underneath them in a classy housing reminds of all-new Camry and Alphard to some extent. There is an addition of a new glass panel at A-pillar where the side mirrors with integrated turn signals are mounted. The front and the rear doors possess the curves on the lower edges that give a sporty look to the car. There is a significant change in the sedan’s roof-line as compared to the previous models. It’s now more rounded than ever which looks elegant on the side. At the rear side, Corolla gets a new pair of LED taillights and bumper that look stunning as the newly designed trunk is also molded in the shape of a duck-tail spoiler. Moreover, it is based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) which is an initiative to structurally transform the vehicle development. Under this new platform, the 12th generation model offers a lower centre of gravity, sporty silhouette in addition to the lower stance and wider tread as compared to the recent models. Overall, the design language of the exterior of the Toyota Corolla is certainly a revamped version of its previous models.
Interior & features:
A spacious cabin on the inside of the sedan comes in a combination of black tone interior and blue colored LED display. It’s quite similar to the interior of the Wagon and Hatchback versions of Corolla introduced by the auto manufacturer. The dashboard design is an elegant work of art equipped with a floating touchscreen infotainment system installed at the centre stage. It’s also integrated with the Toyota’s Drive + Connect feature that allows you to take a mobile control of your car. The all-new LED instrument cluster panel is a stunning piece of art designed under the new platform of Toyota. Apart from the basic features provided in the 12th generation, this unit is a complete package of safety technology integrated inside the car. It comes with 7 airbags which help in reducing the injuries in case of a collision and a heads up display of the important real-time parameters. It’s further powered up with the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) feature. The Automatic High Beam (AHB) feature allows the driver to stay focused on the road without worrying to control the intensity of the headlight. Furthermore, it has a Lane Departure Assist (LDA) with steering assist feature to warn about the change of lane. Other features include Lane Trace Assist (LTA) and Road Sign Assist (RSA).
When will Toyota IMC launch the 12th Gen in Pakistan?
The launch of Toyota Corolla 12th generation in Taiwan means that it will soon be introduced in other parts of the region as well. Unlike before, the Prestige style of Corolla is a global model which means that the same model will be introduced in Europe as well as the ASEAN region. Previously, there was always an Asian-spec model that used to differ from the one introduced in Europe. Undoubtedly, the people in Pakistan are eagerly waiting for the next model of Corolla. Currently, the 11th generation of Corolla is available in the local market which was introduced back in 2014 which makes it an almost 5-year-old model. As history suggests, Toyota IMC usually introduces the new model after at least 6 years. So, we can expect that the 12th generation of Toyota Corolla will be introduced in Pakistan during the next year. So, if you are waiting for the all-new Toyota Corolla, it’s just around the corner. We will have to wait for 2020 when Toyota IMC launches it in the local market of Pakistan.
Toyota Corolla has been the most welcomed and highest sold model of the auto manufacturer around the world including Pakistan. Same has been the case with the 11th generation as it was highly anticipated in the local market of Pakistan with booming sales. However, at this point of time, everyone’s looking up for the next model of the most popular car in Pakistan. As for now, let’s have a look at the comparison of features of all variants of the 11th generation of Corolla sold in Pakistan.
The above-mentioned stats show that the current model of Toyota Corolla in Pakistan is sold between Rs.20.69-32.99 lacs (ex-factory price). In 2020, when Toyota decides to launch the 12th generation of Corolla in Pakistan, the customers will certainly have to pay additional 2-3 Lacs against each variant of the 12th generation to get their hands on the most anticipated model of Toyota.
On the other hand, Toyota will face a competition from its rival Honda who has two of their cars that fall in the same engine capacity i.e. 1300-1800 cc. Furthermore, there are several new entrants making their way to the auto industry of Pakistan including Hyundai, KIA, Nissan, Volkswagen, etc. There are several other cars in this category being imported from Japan. Therefore, one can reckon that it would not be a straight forward success story for Toyota unlike before. From the potential buyer’s perspective, it’s certainly encouraging to see new players launching their vehicles in Pakistan hence tightening the screws on the decades-old monopoly of Honda and Toyota. However, the price tag remains the key point in the success story of any vehicle in Pakistan, especially in the competitive environment ahead.
Drop your thoughts in the comments section below. Stay with PakWheels for all the latest happenings in the automobile industry.
Great article!