While Toyota is able to challenge other compact hatchbacks with its new generation Corolla, the Japanese automaker still lacks the means to go after the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
This could however change, and sooner rather than later. Also, a possible hot hatch version of the Toyota Corolla would not necessarily follow a traditional route, by having a potent internal combustion engine powering the front wheels.
Instead, according to the brand’s chief engineer, Yasushi Ueda, quoted by Drive, the car could adopt a hybrid powertrain. Mr. Ueda admitted that there are several options when it comes to a potential compact hot hatch model, but that his employer still has to decide whether a hybrid is the right way to do it.
It “sounds very good to me”, said Yasushi Ueda when asked about such a version of the car, adding that “I have to consider that, I have to investigate, research. We don’t have any detailed plan yet. Of course, in the future, the idea of a hot hybrid sounds very good.”
The Toyota official went on to say that the Corolla hot hatch could use a petrol internal combustion engine to power the front wheels, whereas the rear axle would be motivated by an electric motor – somewhat similar to the RAV4 Hybrid, which has a 2.5-liter engine and two electric motors, with a combined output of 194 horses in the case of the 2018MY US-spec model.
In the meantime, the 2019 Toyota Corolla is on sale at dealers across the nation with an MSRP of $19,990 (equal to €17,264), with a stick shift, and $21,090 (€18,214) with the CVT. Pricing goes all the way up to at least $24,090 (€20,805) for the range-topping XSE.
Note: 2019 Toyota Corolla pictured