When the first Corolla rolled off the Toyota assembly lines in 1966, nobody would have guessed that this small car from the virtually unknown Japanese carmaker would revolutionise the motoring world. Sure, it had some unusual technologies for the time, such as a four-speed floor shift manual transmission and MacPherson-strut front suspension, but initially, Toyota planned to build only 30 000 a month.
Imagine the company’s surprise when the little Corolla proved such a hit that, in just four short years, global sales had reached a million. It soon became the top-selling nameplate in automotive history, and now – ten generations and half a century later – it has achieved cumulative worldwide sales of close to 50 million.
SA PRODUCTION
Since its local introduction, over 1.5 million units of the ever-evolving model range have already been sold here, and more than a million have rolled off the Prospecton assembly line in Durban.
Production of the third generation Corolla started in May 1975, making South Africa the third country after Japan and Thailand to build the Corolla range. Generation four, known as the “boxy” or “slant-nose”, and the last rear-wheel drive derivative, was introduced in March 1979. Within three years, it became the country’s best-selling car.
In 1984, the “wedge”, as Generation Five is still affectionately known, arrived locally. Two years later, the Sprinter Twin Cam 16 became the first winner of the WesBank / SA Guild of Motoring Journalists’ (SAGMJ) Car Of The Year award.
In much the same fashion as the AE86 (the legendary “Hachi-Roku” that established the Corolla’s performance credentials worldwide), the “pocket rocket” AE82 Conquest RSi, also powered by the revered 4A-GE “Twin-cam” engine, did the same in South Africa. Besides winning the Group N manufacturers’ title for Toyota for three consecutive years, it formed the base for a unique Group B rally car – in 1987, a brace of Conquests set new South African 72-hour endurance records for 1,300 cc and 1,600 cc cars at Gerotek, near Pretoria.
LOCAL HERO
Generation Six; affectionately known as the “Kentucky Rounder” launched locally in 1988 in sedan and hatch form. The flagship Twin Cam GLi Executive won the 1989 WesBank / SAGMJ Car Of The Year title, while its Conquest RSi cousin – initially endowed with the 89 kW T-VIS 4A-GE engine – cleaned up on the race and rally tracks. Interestingly, early AE92 RSi’s were still badged as Corollas locally (as it was known overseas), and not as Conquest.
Increased hot hatch competition saw the introduction of the 96 kW version of the GLi and RSi in 1989, and the development of a bored-out, torquey 1.7-litre version for rally purposes.
Overseas, the jellybean shaped seventh generation Corolla was introduced in 1991, but the local Toyota franchise decided to rather continue with the AE92 model, as it was felt the bigger E100 Corolla would not be as suitable for the domestic market. Their faith in Generation Six paid off, and, in March 1992, the E90/AE92 Corolla range set a new monthly sales record of 4,398 units.
In September 1993, the Corolla/Conquest range underwent a mild revamp, receiving a new grille and headlights. The racy 4A-GE was replaced by the 85 kW 1.8-litre A-FE engine, even as other countries moved towards the 20-valve 4A-GE, as at the time local fuel was not suitable for the 20-valve engine.
The top models retained the GLi/RSi badging, but they never attained the same legendary status of the 4A-GE models in the eyes of Toyota fanatics. In October 1996, the entry-level Conquest Tizzy, still with the AE92 body shell, was introduced.
THE FOLLOWING GENERATIONS
In 1999, the eighth generation “baby-Camry” Corolla was introduced locally in sedan shape, only as the sixth generation Tazz hatchback, now with a five-speed gearbox, was being built. This also saw the return of the venerable 4A-GE, now delivering 121 kW in 20-valve form, with the RSi-badge transferred to the sedan.
However, production of the Tazz, facelifted in October 2000 with more ovoid front end treatment, continued unabated until July 5, 2006 – a total of 18 years – only halted due to stricter emission controls coming into effect.
2002 saw Generation Nine introduced locally, and, in 2006 – with the tenth generation Corolla introduced locally – a total of 65,313 “Corolla family” cars were manufactured in Durban, and seven years later, the millionth locally built unit rolled off the assembly line.
The next year, Generation Eleven followed, with its predecessor still being built at Prospecton under the Quest nameplate. This current model has recently been tastefully revamped with a revised grille, headlamp clusters, tail lamps, bumpers, and an updated instrument panel, as well as upgraded noise insulation, fine-tuned CVT and bigger shocks for improved ride quality.
Having stayed true to its original recipe as an affordable, reliable, family car representing impressive value for money, Toyota now sells approximately 1.5 million units of the iconic Corolla globally a year. This means that 100 Corollas have been built and sold every hour throughout the past 50 years – one every 36 seconds.
TOYOTA COROLLA TIMELINE
1st Generation (E10, 1966)
Chief engineer, Tatsuo Hasegawa, and designers capture the hearts of the public with a car boasting revolutionary new technologies not seen before in Japan, such as MacPherson strut suspension and a four-speed transmission.
2nd Generation (E20, 1970)
In the year that the millionth Corolla was built, the “all-new Corolla” featured revised exterior styling, a longer wheelbase and improved suspension. It was noted for its lively character and seemingly unbreakable engine.
3rd Generation (E30, E40, E50, E60, 1974)
Excellent fuel efficiency and Toyota’s pioneer development of the catalytic converter ensured the Corolla gained popularity after the fuel crisis. Wind tunnel testing ensured a more aerodynamic exterior design.
4th Generation (E70, 1981)
With wind-tunnel development, the new Corolla’s exterior design evolved seamlessly into a wedge shape. It was the last Corolla to have rear-wheel drive, and global production reached 10 million in March 1983.
5th Generation (E80, AE86, 1983)
With the aid of computerised engineering Corolla was transformed into a modern front-wheel drive car. It was the world’s first mass-produced small car with twin-cam multi-valve technology, and won the 1986 SA COTY award.
6th Generation (E90, AE92, 1987)
The key word in the development of this Corolla was “quality”. This model, winner of the 1989 SA Car of the Year award, was produced in South Africa for eighteen years – from 1988 to 2006 – and spawned the evergreen Tazz.
7th Generation (E100, 1991)
The bigger, more rounded seventh generation Corolla sold well overseas, but was never made available locally, as Toyota South Africa decided to continue production of the sixth generation E90.
8th Generation (E110, 1995)
The eighth generation Corolla became the number one selling car in Japan by reducing the cost of ownership and providing a safer, quieter and higher quality compact car. Locally, it was only available in sedan form.
9th Generation (E120, E130, 2000)
The ninth generation Corolla featured edgier styling, a longer wheelbase and new technology, such as intelligent variable valve timing across the range. Locally, the hatchback derivative was rebadged as the RunX.
10th Generation (E140, E150, 2006)
The tenth generation Corolla grew in size and stature, and was the first to be developed only as a sedan, while the Auris hatchback was developed separately. This generation is still produced locally as the Corolla Quest.
11th Generation (E160, E170, 2013)
Engine enhancements, aerodynamic improvements, weight savings and other measures contributed to dynamic and efficiency gains across the range. A hybrid powertrain was introduced for some markets in 2016.
Report by FERDI DE VOS | Images © RYAN ABBOTT (TCB MEDIA)/TOYOTA