SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009 - Jalopnik Comments

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

Benson2175 — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:54:07 EDT

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.

Benson2175

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

SRekauqh — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:57:38 EDT

packs the 158 horsepower version of the 2.4 liter engine

Whoah baby! That's packin' alright!

SRekauqh

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

mobilene — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:05:35 EDT

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

mobilene

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

mytdawg — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 07:57:50 EDT

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.

mytdawg

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

ShelbyGT — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 01:33:46 EDT

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.

ShelbyGT

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

Benson2175 — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 23:48:50 EDT

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.

Benson2175

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

DieterX — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:38:31 EDT

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?

DieterX

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

cgarison — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:56:13 EDT

@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.

cgarison

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

arbnpx — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 19:05:28 EDT

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

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

no_slushbox — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:48:36 EDT

@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.

no_slushbox

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

Maymar - now with 37% less anonymity — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:26:07 EDT

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?

Maymar - now with 37% less anonymity

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

chairmanofthebored — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:22:19 EDT

@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.

chairmanofthebored

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

Seth L — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:58:53 EDT

@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.

Seth L

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

Mad_Science — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:34:25 EDT

@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

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

Evander — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:30:14 EDT

@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.

Evander

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

DustyButt — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:28:46 EDT

Is there a picture of the car?

I just see some curtains and an empty platform.

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

DustyButt

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

grzydj — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:22:12 EDT

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

grzydj

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

cgarison — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:17:14 EDT

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?

cgarison

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

Seth L — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:51:19 EDT

@Mad_Science:

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

Seth L

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

Mad_Science — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:23:34 EDT

Didn't the last gen XRS have more horsepower?

Meh.

Mad_Science

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

no_slushbox — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:21:38 EDT

@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.

no_slushbox

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

no_slushbox — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:20:02 EDT

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.

no_slushbox

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

chairmanofthebored — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:01:31 EDT

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.

chairmanofthebored

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

RalphieDC — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:52:34 EDT

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

I do like me some old Sonny and Cher.

RalphieDC

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

UDMan — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:51:38 EDT

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.

UDMan

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

SwatLax — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:45:20 EDT

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

SwatLax

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

WheatKing — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:34:11 EDT

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?

WheatKing

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

nag2112 — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:28:28 EDT

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

nag2112

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

cgarison — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:26:59 EDT

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.

cgarison

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

Eric Merrill — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:25:14 EDT

Resembles a whale, which is fitting.

Eric Merrill

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

cgarison — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:18:20 EDT

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.

cgarison

SEMA 2007: Toyota Corolla XRS for 2009

Seth L — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:16:11 EDT

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.

Seth L