Safety upgrade for Corolla Hatch
Dec 7, 2009 By Toyota Australia.
Corolla has undergone a suite of upgrades just in time for a new year. In automotive "speak" it is called a facelift, but the most important changes to Toyota's Corolla Hatchback are under the skin.
No-one could accuse Corolla of not being popular. It is the world's largest-selling car, with more than 35 million sold worldwide, including well over one million sold in Australia.
New-look Corolla five-door hatch is safer - in terms of its ability to avoid accidents and to reduce the chance of injury in an accident.
Facelift models have the added active safety of Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC) as standard equipment.
Safety levels have been raised as well.
All facelifted models have four SRS airbags as a minimum - because Toyota has added front-seat side SRS airbags on Corolla Ascent and Levin SX.
Conquest and Levin ZR model grades have seven SRS airbags, including driver's knee SRS airbag and full-length side curtain-shield airbags.
Changes to the look of Hatchback Corolla include more vibrant exterior colours, a new front mask and headlamps, new rear-end styling, and new designs for the 16-inch alloys on Conquest and the two sporty Levin model grades.
Inside, there are new steering wheel designs - with a multi-information display and audio controls, and more - and new interior trim.
(Steering-wheel audio controls are only available on Conquest, Levin SX, Levin ZR and Ascent models fitted with the optional cruise pack.)
Audio systems have been upgraded throughout - with MP3/WMA compatibility, USB jack, iPod (tm) * control via the USB jack, 3.5mm audio input jack, Bluetooth (tm) ^ hands-free and Bluetooth (tm) ^ streaming audio as standard fare.
Ascent has a new tuner/single-changer CD audio while Conquest, Levin SR and Levin ZR have a new tuner/six-CD multi changer unit with 4.3-inch TFT screen.
The new steering wheel has a thicker rim and is 'D' shaped, with a slightly flattened bottom edge to provide a sporty appearance and additional knee room.
Conquest, Levin SX and Levin ZR have a premium steering wheel with audio and multi-information controls.
New interior features include a cool LED shift lever illumination lamp in the electro-chromatic interior mirror of Levin ZR.
Two new exterior colours have been adopted - with Tungsten and Tidal Blue (Tidal Blue is available on Levin SX and ZR models only) replacing Dynamic Blue and Aztec Blue.
*iPod (tm) is a trademark of Apple, Inc.
^The Bluetooth (tm) word mark is owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Bluetooth (tm) will only operate with telephones enabled with compatible Bluetooth (tm)