Wait, the AWD Matrix and Corolla are coming back?

Also, way to put that engine in everything TOMOCO, it's not like it's a VQ.

Is it possible for Toyota sheetmetal to get any more vanilla?

And to think Mullally tried to claim "Bland-engineering" as a Ford innovation. Just like Toyota to copy an American concept like that.

Resembles a whale, which is fitting.

I just scrolled down and is it possible that the pictures are back-asswards for the XRS and base models in the post.

Yawn...

I had better get back to work befor I nod off looking at these boring Toyota snooze-box pictures.

Side rofile...looks exactly the same as the latest gen. Is it just me? what the f is going on?

It's official.. Toyota = Detroit in the late 70's

Can we all start predicting their demise now like we've been doing for GM and Ford for the last 40 years?

It looks like a Jetta. So what is VW going to do with the Mark VI based Jetta?

This can't be the new, redesigned Corolla we have been waiting for. It's the same car as the last one, only with more mind numbing details.

and the bland goes on.... and the bland goes on....

I do like me some old Sonny and Cher.

It looks like a Toyota sedan. They'll sell tons of them, make a lot of money, and not give a damn how boring we think it looks.

In the future Toyota won't be able to beat the Chinese on price, or, with time, quality, and if this is any indication of their true abilities then Toyota won't be able to beat them on style either.

@chairmanofthebored: There are a couple problems with the "It's mediocre, but Toyota can't be beat" response.

First, while never thought of as on the forefront of style, Toyotas used to be plain in a minimalist, functional way. This is truly just an ugly blob. The cladding and dual cowl instrument cluster give it a bit of late '90s Pontiac feel.

Second, in the A is a higher quality, lower priced alternative to B equation Hyundai has replaced Toyota as A, and Toyota has replaced the domestics as B.

Didn't the last gen XRS have more horsepower?

Meh.

@Mad_Science:

Yup, a 2ZZ-FE with 170HP. I don't get it.

Wa@Seth L: But wasn't this the motor where you did not get the horsepower until the tach broke 6000 RPM? And if you tossed a turbo or supercharger, Toyota guaranteed that it could not handle the additional forced induction?

@Mad_Science:
It was rated before the new SAE ratings.

Is there a picture of the car?

I just see some curtains and an empty platform.

Hmph. I guess they'll post 'em later.

@Mad_Science: It also came with a 6 speed manual transmission too.

@cgarison: The 2ZZ-FE had a compression ratio of 11.5:1 and a factory redline of 8200 rpm. You can't run a lot of boost but it is doable.

@grzydj: Ah...funny how the numbers come out differently depending on how you do the test.

They really should switch to reporting wheel HP. It's a lot more useful. That, and it should be standard practice for auto rags (and blogs!) to dyno any tester they have.

@Mad_Science:
Dyno! THat would mean they would have to leave the confines of whatever sorporate retreat the company paid for.

@grzydj:
Good point, but still, the 2.4 isn't really a great engine, especially for a 'performance' veriant.

@no_slushbox: I don't disagree with your logic, but buyers know brands, not data, and it looks just like the ugly-blob Camry whose sales haven't seemed to suffer from its appearance, so they'll still sell a ton of them.

At least it looks better than the Camry (which is impressive, being smaller and all).

But that's less hp than GM gets from the 2.4 Ecotec - does that mean Toyota has lousy engineers?

@chairmanofthebored: There is definitely a brand perception lag, but I think Hyundai's image is rapidly improving (although as an enthusiast it is hard to guage the public at large). I do think people will think twice when they can get a Sonata for what this will likely cost.

Carscoop says the XRS is 158 HP, 162 ft-lbs, 22mpg city, 30 mpg highway. That sounds like the 2.4L 2AZ-FE engine (Scion tC, 2nd-gen Scion xB, Camry, RAV4, etc.).

I like the 2AZ in the tC; not underpowered for the car, and it has plenty of torque (relatively speaking). Should be pretty fun in a Corolla.

@arbnpx: If it is the 2AZ-FE, then you could get the bolt on Eaton Supercharger and get the ponies closer to 180 with more torque at few RPM's.

But that is $2,000 on top of the sticker and a voided warranty.

So 'splain this to me: the Corolla XRS (not to mention the Matrix XRS) will likely cost more than the more spacious, better-equipped, and similarly-engined xB. In fact, based on current pricing the XRS will likely be in the tC territory. So, why would anyone ever buy one of these?

Yup it's bland and horrible. And soon it will be clogging up the road driven by bland mediocre 'people' dulling around to wherever they're going. I might as well kill myself now.

I thought Toyota had returned to the drawing board after Honda revealed the latest generation Civic - in order to make the next gen Corall more exciting. I am not sure that this Corolla looks any different from the current one - just even more incredibly bland. They should just call this the Toyota Car. Giving it a name ascribes more character to this car than the styling deserves. I don't feel so bad about the new Focus now - its styling is horrible - but that is better than not having any whatsoever.

I'd like to propose that if GM sells to cousin-lovin' rednecks (I'm now trying to locate the cousin that looks like Linda Carter) that Toyotas are targeted at boring-ass middle age white bread corporate proles.

I guess that's more of an observation than a proposal.

Why in hell would they bolt the Yaris front end onto the current Corolla like that?

packs the 158 horsepower version of the 2.4 liter engine

Whoah baby! That's packin' alright!

I love how they release it at SEMA with a spoiler and body kit. Sticking feathers in your butt and parading around a farm doesn't make you a chicken.