Toyota Corolla (E120)

Ninth generation
Manufacturer Toyota Motor Corporation
Kuozui Motors
NUMMI
Production Nov 2000–present
Model years 2003–2008
Assembly Toyota City, Japan
Fremont, United States
Durban, South Africa
Burnaston, United Kingdom
Adapazarı, Turkey
Tianjin, China
Taipei, Taiwan
Jhongli, Taiwan[1]
Bangalore, India
Shah Alam, Malaysia
Karachi, Pakistan
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Santa Rosa, Philippines
Chachoengsao, Thailand
Vĩnh Phúc, Vietnam
Indaiatuba, Brazil
Cumaná, Venezuela
Cikarang, Indonesia
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Zárate, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
Predecessor Corolla E110
Successor Corolla E140/E150
Body style 4-door sedan
3-door hatchback
5-door hatchback
5-door station wagon
5-door van
Layout FF layout
Engine 1.4L I4(smallest) thru Diesel 2.2L I4(largest)
Transmission 4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
6-speed manual
Wheelbase 102.4 in (2,601 mm)[2]
Verso: 2,750 mm (108.3 in)
Length 178.3 in (4,529 mm)
Verso/Japanese models: 4,370 mm (172.0 in)
Width 67.14 in (1,705 mm)
Verso: 1,770 mm (69.7 in)
Height 2003-04 Base: 57.5 in (1,461 mm)
2003-04: 57.7 in (1,466 mm)
2005-08 CE: 58.3 in (1,481 mm)
2005-08 S & LE: 58.5 in (1,486 mm)
XRS: 58.1 in (1,476 mm)
Verso: 1,620 mm (63.8 in)
Verso Clean Power: 1,625 mm (64.0 in)
Related Toyota Matrix
Toyota Voltz
Pontiac Vibe

The Corolla E120 is the ninth generation of cars sold by Toyota under the Corolla nameplate.

The ninth-generation Corolla (NZE120/ZZE120) first appeared in November 2000 (Japan) with edgier styling and a longer 2600 mm (102.4 in) wheelbase. It is built on a shortened Toyota Vista platform—the Vista being a mid-sized, rather than compact car. From being marketed as a premium compact sedan, to an affordable hatchback, the 9th-generation Corolla was designed as a 'Global' automobile to suit different market needs. This was one of Toyota's most versatile and most popular models ever produced.

The Corolla has also spawned another multi-purpose vehicle, the Matrix (E130), sold in Canada, Mexico and the United States, which forms the basis of the Pontiac Vibe, which was in turn sold in Japan as the Toyota Voltz.

The E120 series was replaced by the E140 or E150 series in late 2006 or early 2007 but the E120 continues to be made in China.[3]

The E120 Corolla won the What Car? magazine's "Car of the Year" award for 2002.

Contents

Europe

For the European market, the Corolla was offered as 3 door Hatchback, 5 door Hatchback, Sedan or Saloon, and Wagon or Kombi / Estate. The high performance Corolla T-Sport with 1.8 liter 2ZZ-GE engine was available in certain countries.

European/Israeli/Moroccan market engines:

Japan

For the Japanese market, trim levels for the Corolla Sedan were X, G, and Luxel.

And in 2003, the Japanese market made some special 1500 cc, 4WD sedans. The station wagon model is called the Corolla Fielder in Japan and the five-door is called the Corolla Runx, launching in 2001. The Allex was also launched to replace the Sprinter.

The Corolla Spacio (Verso in Europe) moved on to the new platform, with later models adding a third row of fold-down seating in the back.

Engine choices were 1.5-liter and 1.8-liter gasoline, and 2.2-liter diesel. Some car is specially modified in 4WD system. Most of the cars have front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. All cars have ABS and EBD system. Front seats have two SRS air bag standard.

North America

The North American model is bigger compared to the Japanese Corolla, and is based on the Corolla Altis distributed in Southeast Asia. It came to the United States in March 2002 for the 2003 model year. Trim levels offered are CE, LE, and S, continuing from the previous generation.[5] Production for the ninth generation Corolla ended in 2008, with the tenth generation Corolla introduced mid 2008 as a 2009 model. The Corolla used an updated version of the 1ZZ-FE, with power increased to 130 hp. The Corolla grew in height from the previous generation, and the S trim level featured sportier front and rear bumpers and side skirts, as well as fog lights. For the 2005 model year, the styling was refreshed with a new grille, rear taillights, wheel covers, and interior accents.

A sporty XRS model, introduced for 2005 & 2006 only, featured the high-revving 127 kW (170 hp) 172 nm (127 ft-lb) 2ZZ-GE engine and 6-speed manual from the Toyota Celica GT-S and Lotus Elise.[6] The 2ZZ-GE motor was actually developed with collaboration from Yamaha motors, and uses similar technologies found in its sibling motor the 1ZZ-FE. The XRS was very similar to its Corolla S cousin, but the 2ZZ-GE and other structural changes set it apart. Notable features include the X-Brace, which increases structural rigidity in the rear. The XRS also featured a sport-tuned suspension, special seats with more aggressive bolsters, and also a fixed rear seat.[6] The standard Corolla had 60/40 split folding seats, while the XRS had none.

This was the first generation of the Corolla to be available in Mexico, and was offered in 3 trim levels: the base CE, the mid-range LE and S, the latter only available with a manual transmission.

North American market engines:

Canadian 20th Anniversary Edition (2008)

To commemorate 20 years of building Toyota Corolla in Canada, Toyota Canada offered the 20th Anniversary Edition Corolla CE for the 2008 model year, which includes power door locks with keyless entry, cruise control, power windows with driver's side auto down, special edition badging, aluminium alloy wheels and power moon roof on top of Corolla CE.[7]

South & Southeast Asia

An upmarket version of the ninth-generation Corolla, dubbed the Corolla Altis, is manufactured in Thailand and Philippines and the sold across Southeast Asia and South Asia (including Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, India and Thailand). It debuted in late 2001 as model year 2002 as a bigger and more luxurious variant of the Japanese Corolla, featuring unique interior and exterior panels that separates it from the basic Corolla. The Corolla Altis is targeted at consumers who prefer more comfort than the current Corolla but do not wish to buy the more luxurious Camry. Two versions of engine are available, the 81 kW (110 bhp) 1.6 3ZZ-FE engine and the 100 kW (136 bhp) 1ZZ-FE|1.8 1ZZ-FE engine, both with VVT-i technology.

In 2004, the Corolla Altis received its first facelift. Changes include a new grille design, a sleeker front bumper, redesigned fog lamps, new LED tail lights, different alloy wheels and minor interior updates (auto climate control became a standard feature in lower end variants). Two years later, to keep up with much newer competitors, the Corolla Altis received its second facelift. Exterior changes include another redesigned grille, redesigned chrome rear license plate ornament, a new third LED brake light, and a new steering wheel audio switch. A new aerokit and new wing mirrors with signal indicators (similar to the 2007 Camry) is available as an optional package in Malaysia.

A low end variant of the Corolla Altis is also branded as the Toyota Limo, featuring lower spec and intended for taxi business in Thailand. It is not to be confused with the low end taxi version of the Toyota Vios which is also called Toyota Limo in Indonesia.

In Singapore, Toyota's exclusive authorised dealer Borneo Motors originally sold the Japanese version of the Corolla, but later replaced it with the Corolla Altis.

In terms of product lifespan ( production lasted for seven years ) and number of units sold, the Corolla Altis easily outlived its Corolla predecessors, making it currently the most popular Corolla variant/generation in Southeast Asia.

ASEAN engines:

Rest of the world

In Brazil, the Corolla sedan and the Corolla Fielder wagon are built locally. It is available with the 1.6L 3ZZ-FE engine (sedan only) and the 1.8L 1ZZ-FE. The sedan is externally identical to the US model, but the Fielder has different styling from the Japanese version. Starting from the 2008 model (released May 2007), the 1.8L engine has flexible fuel technology. Unlike most other flexible fuel vehicles in Brazilian market, the Corolla Flex has the same power ratings either with ethanol or gasoline.

The Corolla sedan, wagon and 5-door hatchback (Seca) sold in Australia were sourced from Japan, while some hatchbacks were sourced from South Africa. Trim levels offered were the Ascent, Ascent Sport, Conquest, and Ultima. The sporty Levin (hatchback and wagon) and high performance Sportivo was available in hatchback only and was built in South Africa while the Levin was primarily sourced from Japan. The Sportivo was powered by the 2ZZ-GE|2ZZ-GE engine and a six-speed manual gearbox (also used in the Celica), while the other models had the 1ZZ-FE. Minor changes in 2004 included the grille and replacing the headlights with a "tear drop" type. The Sportivo was discontinued in Australia from 2006 due to the prohibitive costs involved in modifying the engine to comply with Euro IV emissions. All the other models had their engine power and torque reduced to 93 kW and 161 N•m from 100 kW and 171 N•m respectively from October 2005 production to comply with Euro IV. From May 2006, the Ascent and Ascent Sport models were upgraded with standard front power windows and passenger air bag, while the Conquest models had ABS brakes as standard. The equipment upgrades were not applied to the wagon, which ceased production in August 2006.

The Corolla E120 continues to be sold in China as the Corolla EX through the Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co. Ltd. It is also known as the 花冠 (Hua Guan) which is a direct translation of 'Corolla' (crown of the flower) in Mandarin Chinese. Only one trim level is offered with a 5 speed manual or a 6 speed automatic gearbox behind a 1ZR-FE engine.[3]

Corollas sold in the Middle East and Northern Africa (except Israel and Morocco) are made in Japan.

eCorolla

The eCorolla was a fully electric conversion of the E120 Corolla shown at the 2009 European Electric Motor Show.[8] It was built by a Finnish open source project called eCars-Now![9][10] using lithium battery. The car is powered by an Azure Dynamics AC motor and controller, the lithium batteries are from Thunder Sky[11] and the car uses a battery management system by Lithium Balance.[12] The aim of the project was to make an electric vehicle at the same price as an average car.[13]

References

Gallery

2003–2004 Toyota Corolla Conquest sedan (Australia)  
2003–2004 Toyota Corolla Conquest sedan (Australia)  
2003–2004 Toyota Corolla Conquest 5-door (Australia)  
2001–2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest wagon (Australia)  
2004–2007 Toyota Corolla Ascent 5-door hatchback (Australia)  
2004–2007 Toyota Corolla Ascent 5-door hatchback (Australia)  
The facelift 2004-2005 Corolla Altis 1.8 G (Malaysia)  
2003-2004 Corolla CE (US)  
2003-2004 Corolla LE (US)  
2005 Corolla S ZZE130 (US)  
2005 Corolla S ZZE130 (US)