The next-generation 2014 Toyota Corolla is a big deal for the Japanese automaker. With rivals stepping up their game in the compact segment, Toyota must make sure the 2014 Corolla is still competitive with cars like the soon-to-be-refreshed Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cruze, and Nissan Sentra to stay near the top of the sales charts.
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AMotor Trendreader spied this 2014 Toyota Corolla prototype testing with a next-generation Lexus IS not far from Toyota's Torrance, Calif. headquarters.
The 2014 Corolla looks like it'll rely heavily on the Toyota Camry for styling cues - not the worst strategy for Toyota. The most obvious connection to the Camry is in the taillights, which appear to feature the same boomerang design seen on the Camry. We expect rounded sheetmetal as well as a profile not unlike that of the Camry.
Styling of the 2014 Corolla's front end will borrow heavily from the Camry and the Avalon, and inside it'll offer more an updated interior with the latest version of Toyota's Entune infotainment system, which is already offered on the 2013 Corolla.
Not much is known about the next-gen Corolla's powertrain, but it wouldn't surprise us to see a slightly modified version of the current car's 132-hp 1.8-liter I-4 carry over. With a six-speed manual replacing the five-speed, and a six-speed automatic or CVT replacing the dated four-speed slushbox, the current Corolla's 27/34 mpg city/highway rating will likely approach 28-30 mpg in the city and 38-40 mpg on the highway.
Check out our full gallery of 2014 Toyota Corolla spyshots below.
I generally like writing—especially when it’s about cars—but I hate writing about myself. So instead of blathering on about where I was born (New York City, in case you were wondering) or what type of cars I like (all of ’em, as long as it has a certain sense of soul or purpose), I’ll answer the one question I probably get most, right after what’s your favorite car (see above): How’d you get that job? Luck. Well, mostly. Hard work, too. Lots of it. I sort of fell into my major of journalism/mass communication at St. Bonaventure University and generally liked it a lot. In order to complete my degree senior year, we had to spend our last two semesters on some sort of project. Seeing as I loved cars and already spent a good portion of my time reading about cars on sites such as Motor Trend, I opted to create a car blog. I started a Tumblr, came up with a car-related name (The Stig’s American Cousin), signed up for media access on a bunch of manufacturer’s websites, and started writing. I did everything from cover new trim levels to reviewing my friends’ cars. I even wrote a really bad April Fool’s Day post about the next Subaru Impreza WRX being Toyota-Corolla-based. It was fun, and because it was fun, it never felt like work. Sometime after my blog had gotten off the ground, I noticed that Motor Trend was hiring for what’s now our Daily News Team. I sent in my résumé and a link to my blog. I got the job, and two weeks after graduation I made the move from New York to California. I’ve been happily plugging away at a keyboard—and driving some seriously awesome hardware—ever since.
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