Toyota plans to fully redesign the Corolla Sport, releasing the 13th generation around 2026. The new Corolla Sport is expected to further evolve, combining practicality, driving performance, and environmental friendliness at a high level. This new model will be equipped with the latest 1.5L inline-four-cylinder engine, which is expected to further evolve. At the same time, the Corolla Touring and Corolla Sedan are also scheduled to undergo a full redesign. We will provide a detailed explanation of what kind of models they will be.
The current model was announced in August 2019 and underwent a full model change in September, marking the first major overhaul in about seven years. Furthermore, the overseas model is expected to undergo a full model change in the second half of 2025, and early introduction is being rushed in order to comply with stricter exhaust gas regulations scheduled for 2028 onwards.
Summary of the new Toyota Corolla Sport
overview
- Toyota Motor Corporation’s flagship hatchback, the Corolla Sport, has undergone a full model change.
- The 13th generation model is scheduled for release in 2026.
- New generation engine, sophisticated design and latest technology
Powertrain
- New generation 1.5L inline 4-cylinder engine:
- Volume and overall height reduced by 10%, improving aerodynamic performance and fuel economy
- Improved output while complying with Euro 7 regulations
- Improved efficiency when combined with a hybrid system
- 1.5L inline 4-cylinder turbo engine:
- Reduced displacement for improved power output
- others:
- Gasoline vehicle: 1.5L inline 4-cylinder engine (130ps/15.0kgm)
- Gasoline turbo: 1.5L inline 4-cylinder turbo engine (180ps/23.0kgm)
- Hybrid vehicle: 1.5L engine + electric motor (system output TBD)
Exterior
- Improved texture with latest design
- Low-positioned hood and thin headlights
- Wide stance for greater presence and driving stability
- Design based on function
interior
- New generation equipment for improved usability
- Latest AI-equipped infotainment system
- High-performance voice recognition
- Sporty seats
- Secure knee space in the rear seats
- Spacious interior space
fuel economy
- Significant improvement
safety equipment
- Toyota Safety Sense standard equipment
- Pre-crash safety
- Lane Tracing Assist (LTA)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Intelligent Clearance Sonar
price
- Approximately 100,000 yen more expensive than the current model
release date
- Scheduled for 2026
About the new Toyota Corolla Sport full model change
The 13th generation Corolla series will be undergoing a complete redesign, with a bold change from Toyota’s common design language “Keen Look” that was used in the previous 12th generation model to the “Hammerhead Design,” giving the car a completely new exterior.
The new Corolla Sport is expected to have an even sportier appearance than the current model. In addition to a low center of gravity and wide stance, the sharp headlights and taillights will give it a more sporty impression. The interior space is also expected to be larger and more comfortable. In particular, the rear seat legroom has been expanded, and it is designed to be comfortable even on long drives. The interior will also be improved and will incorporate the latest technology.
The new Corolla Sport will also be built on the improved TNGA-C platform, which is also used in the new Prius , improving body rigidity and providing a more comfortable ride.
The latest safety technology will also be installed, and the latest version of the preventive safety package “Toyota Safety Sense” will be introduced . This will further strengthen functions such as collision damage mitigation braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, etc., and Toyota teammates “Advanced Park” and “Advanced Drive” will be installed to support safe driving. Furthermore, “Panoramic View Monitor” will be adopted in the higher grades .
The engine is a new 1.5L inline 4-cylinder engine with an eye on electrification, achieving both improved combustion efficiency and high output. This allows for a high level of power performance and fuel economy, resulting in a significant improvement in fuel economy. In addition, a hybrid model is also available, achieving even better fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions, thereby reducing the environmental impact.
Toyota’s new Corolla Sport full model change exterior: New hammerhead design
Crown Sport
The “Hammerhead” design, which began with the fifth-generation Prius and the bZ4X, was inspired by the hammerhead shark. With its shark-like face, it quickly spread to new Toyota vehicle models. This design was subsequently adopted in a succession of models, including the Crown Sport and Crown Estate, and has become an iconic Toyota design.
Prius
Crown Estate
Crown Sport
Toyota’s new common design language
What does a unified design look like for each manufacturer? For example, Lexus is known for its distinctive “spindle grille” and “spindle body,” Mazda for its “heartbeat design,” and BMW for its “kidney grille.” In this way, each manufacturer tends to standardize their designs to some extent in order to establish their own company identity.
Toyota is no exception, and has recently adopted the “Hammerhead” design as a common design language. Toyota has also long incorporated a design known as the “Keen Look” into several of its vehicle models. Representative examples include the C-HR, Corolla series, and Harrier. With the full model change, these models have also undergone a major evolution from the “Keen Look” to the “Hammerhead” design.
Toyota’s new Corolla Sport undergoes a full model change with a functional interior design
The interior is equipped with new generation equipment for improved usability. The infotainment system, equipped with the latest AI, supports advanced voice recognition, allowing various functions to be used while talking. Sporty seats are also available in the front for improved seating comfort. Knee space in the rear seats has also been secured, enhancing comfort. A body design that has reduced the size of the powertrain and improved spatial efficiency has resulted in a spacious and easy-to-use interior.
New Corolla Sport Fully Redesigned with Next-Generation Toyota Safety Sense
The next-generation Toyota Safety Sense will be standard on all vehicles. This system includes Pre-Collision Safety, which can detect cyclists during the day and pedestrians at night, and Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), which assists with steering to keep the vehicle in its lane when radar cruise control is activated.
The latest “Pre-crash Safety with Collision Avoidance Assist” offers further enhancements, including intersection detection, low-speed acceleration suppression, and emergency steering assistance. This system, equipped with pedestrian detection, uses millimeter-wave radar and a camera to detect vehicles and pedestrians ahead and provides collision avoidance and damage mitigation through alerts, brake assist, and automatic braking. Automatic braking activates for pedestrians at speeds between 10 and 80 km/h, slowing the vehicle appropriately depending on the speed difference. It also activates for vehicles at a wide speed range, from 10 km/h to maximum speed, and can decelerate at high speeds even when facing stopped vehicles. Additional features include low-speed acceleration suppression, detection of oncoming vehicles and pedestrians when turning right at an intersection, and emergency steering assistance.
- A low-speed acceleration suppression function that detects pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles directly in front of the vehicle at low speeds and suppresses acceleration.
- It can also detect oncoming vehicles going straight when turning right at an intersection, as well as pedestrians crossing from the opposite direction when turning right or left.
- Emergency steering avoidance support function that assists steering when the driver makes an evasive maneuver in an emergency.
The Road Sign Assist (RSA) has expanded its detection targets, and now also reads major roadside traffic signs such as “speed limit,” “stop sign,” “no entry,” and “no crossing” and displays them on the instrument panel.
The Lane Departure Alert (LDA) camera recognizes the white and yellow lines in the driving lane, and if it detects the possibility of lane departure, it alerts the driver with a buzzer and a visual display, helping to avoid collisions caused by lane departure.
Leading vehicle departure notification function If you are stopped behind a vehicle in front of you at a traffic light or in a traffic jam and do not notice the vehicle in front of you starting to move, a buzzer will sound and a message will appear on the display to notify you.
The Automatic High Beam (AHB) camera detects the headlights of oncoming vehicles or the taillights of vehicles ahead and automatically switches between high and low beams, reducing glare for drivers of other vehicles and helping to ensure forward visibility at night.
Radar Cruise Control : This vehicle employs radar cruise control, which uses millimeter-wave radar to detect the distance between vehicles and the vehicle ahead, and adjusts its speed to match the speed of the vehicle ahead within a set speed range, allowing it to maintain a certain distance while following. Millimeter-wave radar and a camera detect lane changes by the vehicle ahead, allowing for smoother acceleration and deceleration control. Toyota aims for the ultimate goal of a mobility society: zero traffic fatalities and injuries. Toyota is researching and developing various safety equipment and systems based on its “Integrated Safety Concept,” striving to “develop safer vehicles and technologies,” and strengthening a wide range of traffic safety initiatives through “participation in traffic environment improvement” and “traffic safety awareness activities for people.”
Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), featured in the new Lexus LS series, is being adopted for the first time in the next-generation Toyota Safety Sense P. When driving on a highway or expressway and radar cruise control is activated, turning on the Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) switch provides steering assistance necessary to keep the vehicle in its lane.
Advanced Safety
Intelligent Clearance Sonar (Parking Support Brake Stationary) is a system that helps mitigate collisions caused by accidentally pressing the accelerator or pressing it too hard, thereby reducing damage. The “Clearance Sonar” displays and sounds a buzzer when approaching stationary objects while parking, and now has an added function to mitigate contact with stationary objects. The sonar can also accurately detect glass at convenience stores and other locations. When driving at low speeds (below 15km/h), if a stationary object is detected in the direction of travel, the hybrid system output is reduced, and if the distance becomes even shorter, the brakes are automatically applied.
Emergency brake signal (hazard lights flashing type) When you apply the brakes suddenly, the hazard lights will automatically flash.
If the driver continues to make no changes while the Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) system is in operation, it will prompt the driver to take action with sound, visual and gradual deceleration warnings, and will alert people outside the vehicle with hazard lights and a horn while slowing down and stopping the vehicle within its own lane, helping to avoid accidents involving damage to the vehicle or other parties involved and reducing the damage caused by the accident.
Digital inner mirror: Images from a camera mounted on the rear of the vehicle are displayed on the rearview mirror.
Advanced Park remote function provides on-screen and voice/buzzer guidance, and assists with backing into a target parking position confirmed on the screen and exiting from parallel parking by operating the steering wheel, shift position, accelerator and brake.In addition, a dedicated smartphone app is available, allowing you to park remotely from outside the car.
Panoramic View Monitor (360° monitor) You can check hard-to-reach areas, such as diagonally behind or directly to the side of the car, so you can spot obstacles early.
Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) uses radar to detect vehicles in adjacent lanes. If a vehicle enters your blind spot, an LED indicator mounted on the door mirror will light up.
Safe Exit Assist (SEA) When exiting the vehicle, the Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) sensor is used to detect approaching vehicles, including bicycles, from behind. If the system determines that there is a risk of a collision with the open door or with an occupant exiting the vehicle, an indicator in the door mirror will light up to warn the driver.
Rear Cross Traffic Auto Brake: Detects blind spots when reversing and alerts the driver. If there is a risk of collision, the system automatically applies the brakes to help mitigate damage from a collision with an approaching vehicle.
Remote Start (App) A new optional service that allows you to start the engine and air conditioning from the MyTOYOTA app.
About Toyota’s highly efficient 1.5L 4-cylinder engine
New engines unveiled include a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine. The smaller engine size is said to revolutionize the car’s packaging, while also improving fuel economy while providing high efficiency and power. Furthermore, the new 1.5L 4-cylinder turbo engine is said to have almost the same engine power output as the conventional 2.5L engine and 1.5L turbo engine, allowing it to meet strict emission regulations.
The new 2.0L 4-cylinder engine will have almost the same engine output as the current 2.4L engine, which is also smaller, and will be able to meet strict emissions regulations.
In the electrification era, rather than the engine assisting the motor, the motor will take the lead role and the engine will play a supporting role. This will allow the engine output to be reduced and the engine stroke to be shortened. As a result, the height of the engine itself can be lowered.
What is the European exhaust gas regulation Euro 7?
Euro 7 is a new automobile emission standard proposed by the European Commission. This standard aims to reduce air pollution and environmental impact in Europe, and sets even stricter standards than the previous Euro 6.
In November 2022, the European Commission proposed that Euro 7 would be applied to passenger cars and light commercial vehicles from July 1, 2025, and to heavy vehicles from July 1, 2027. However, the implementation date was postponed from the 2025 date proposed by the European Commission, and passenger cars and vans will now be introduced from January 2028. Furthermore, it was suggested that NOx restrictions for trucks should be relaxed further than proposed.
Toyota’s new Corolla Sport full model change powertrain
Inline 4-cylinder DOHC 1.8L engine “2ZR-FXE”
The Japanese model of the new Corolla Sport is expected to adopt the current fifth-generation hybrid system, a series-parallel hybrid with a reduction mechanism that combines an improved inline four-cylinder DOHC 1.8L engine, the 2ZR-FXE, with a motor.
Additionally, the lineup may include a hybrid model equipped with the newly developed engine mentioned above, as well as a hybrid model combining a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine and a motor. Considering that the new Prius offers both 2.0L and 1.8L hybrid models, it is likely that these hybrid systems will also be available as options for the Corolla Sport.
1.8L engine + motor hybrid
| Specifications | New Corolla Sport Hybrid |
|---|---|
| engine | Inline 4 DOHC 1.8L + motor ( series-parallel hybrid with reduction mechanism ) |
| Maximum power | 72kW (98ps) / 5,200rpm |
| Maximum torque | 142Nm (14.5kgm) / 3,600rpm |
| Front motor maximum output |
70kW (95PS) |
| Front motor maximum torque |
185Nm (18.9kgfm) |
| Rear motor maximum output |
30kW (41PS) |
| Rear motor maximum torque |
84Nm (8.6kgfm) |
| System Output | 103kW (140ps) |
| Drive system | 2WD E-Four (4WD) |
| transmission | Electric continuously variable transmission |
| WLTC mode fuel economy | 27.3km/L ~ 29.5km/L (2WD) 24.9km/L ~ 27.8km/L (4WD) |
1.5L engine + motor hybrid
| Specifications | New Corolla Sport Hybrid |
|---|---|
| engine | Inline 4 DOHC 1.5L + motor ( series-parallel hybrid with reduction mechanism ) |
| Maximum power | -kW (-ps) / -rpm |
| Maximum torque | -Nm (-gm) / -rpm |
| Front motor maximum output |
-kW (95PS) |
| Front motor maximum torque |
-Nm (-kgfm) |
| Rear motor maximum output |
-kW (-PS) |
| Rear motor maximum torque |
-Nm (-kgfm) |
| System Output | -kW (-ps) |
| Drive system | 2WD E-Four (4WD) |
| transmission | Electric continuously variable transmission |
| WLTC mode fuel economy | Approx. 31km/L (2WD) Approx. 28km/L (4WD) |
The 1.5L engine + motor has a higher system output, and also has many economic advantages, as the automobile tax in Japan is 36,000 yen for a 1.8L engine (over 1.5 liters to 2.0 liters) and 30,500 yen for a 1.5L engine (over 1 liter to 1.5 liters).
Toyota’s new Corolla Sport full model change: price and grade
As for the price of the new Corolla Sport, it is certain that it will be more expensive than the current model due to changes in the powertrain, the adoption of the latest equipment, and rising prices.
2024 model price grade (reference)
| grade | engine | transmission |
Drive system |
Price (10%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G “Z” | Inline 4-cylinder 2.0L direct injection engine “Dynamic Force Engine” |
CVT | 2WD | 2,728,100 yen |
| G | 2,476,500 yen | |||
| G “X” | 2,210,000 yen |
| grade | engine | transmission |
Drive system |
Price (10%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HYBRID G “Z” | Inline 4-cylinder 1.8L “2ZR-FXE” |
Electric continuously variable transmission |
2WD | 2,978,100 yen |
| HYBRID G | 2,726,500 yen | |||
| HYBRID G “X” | 2,470,000 yen |
About the Corolla series
The Corolla series is a core model that Toyota Motor Corporation is proud of, and a true people’s car that has supported Japan’s motorization for over half a century. Its history began with the release of the first Corolla in 1966, and has evolved over 12 generations to the present day.
History of the Corolla Series
The first-generation Corolla was developed as a car that was well-balanced in every aspect, based on the concept of “80 points plus a little something extra.” Since then, it has continued to evolve with the times, always meeting the needs of its users.
- First-generation Corolla (1966): With its affordable price and high reliability, it led the motorization of Japan.
- Second-generation Corolla (1970): Compliant with exhaust gas regulations, the car’s environmental performance was improved.
- Third-generation Corolla (1974): Influenced by the oil crisis, this model placed emphasis on fuel efficiency.
- Fourth-generation Corolla (1979): The car adopted front-wheel drive (FF) and had more interior space.
- Fifth-generation Corolla (1983): Improved aerodynamics further improved fuel economy.
- Sixth-generation Corolla (1987): Enhanced luxury and comfort.
- Seventh-generation Corolla (1991): Safety features were improved, with airbags becoming standard equipment.
- 8th generation Corolla (1995): Further improved environmental performance and equipped with a fuel-efficient engine.
- 9th generation Corolla (2000): The Corolla became a global model and was sold worldwide.
- 10th generation Corolla (2006): The design was completely redesigned to emphasize a sporty image.
- 11th generation Corolla (2012): A hybrid model was added, significantly improving fuel economy.
- 12th generation Corolla (2019): Adopts the TNGA platform, improving driving performance and safety.
The appeal of the current Corolla series
The current Corolla series combines a sporty design, a comfortable ride, and advanced safety technology. There are five body types available: the sedan “Corolla,” the touring (wagon) “Corolla Touring,” the hatchback “Corolla Sport,” and the SUV “Corolla Cross” and sports “GR Corolla,” both added in 2021, allowing customers to choose the model that best suits their lifestyle. The change in body size from a 5-number to a 3-number makes the model even more appealing.
- Corolla Sedan: Featuring a sophisticated design and spacious interior, it is suitable for a wide range of uses, from everyday use to long-distance driving.
- Corolla Touring: A wagon-type vehicle with excellent utility, perfect for an active lifestyle.
- Corolla Sport: With its sporty driving performance and stylish design, it’s a joy to drive.
- Corolla Cross : A versatile SUV that embodies “just right,” making it fun for both city driving and outdoor adventures.
- GR Corolla: Sporty driving and stylish design make it the ultimate hot hatch.
A word from the editorial department
The new Corolla Sport will be a highly attractive model, combining a sporty design, comfortable interior space, the latest safety technology, and excellent environmental performance through a full model change.
This full model change is expected to introduce a new engine and comply with the strict Euro 7 emissions regulations. As a pioneer, the Corolla, which recorded sales of over one million units worldwide in 2023, is the perfect model for Toyota. As the second most popular car model in the world, it’s a perfect vehicle for introducing new technology. Also, by completely revamping its image with this full model change, Toyota may be aiming to surpass Tesla’s Model Y, which was the best-selling car of 2023. We can’t wait for its release in 2026.
We will keep you updated as new information becomes available.
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