There’s a Corolla SUV in your future as Toyota confirms local manufacture
Toyota South Africa has confirmed its new Corolla Cross for local manufacture and sale at its State of the Motor Industry broadcast today. The company calls it ‘Corolla meets SUV’ and it was launched in Thailand last year, where it’s available in a hybrid with a 72 kW 103 Nm 1.8-litre petrol engine backed up by a 53 kW 163N m electric motor for a 90kW maximum output. Or a 103 kW 177 Nm straight 1.8-litre 2ZR-FBE petrol mill with a CVT.
FIRST SA-BUILT HYBRID
The company confirmed that Corolla Cross will be its first locally-built hybrid, which it expects will bring that technology to a far broader audience. It will be built in its Prospection, Durban plant in both right and left hand drive for local consumption and export. Corolla Cross represents a R2.1 billion investment that will bring many new jobs to Prospection and the supply line.
The newcomer, which bold looks like its positioning, fits below the Fortuner and RAV4 and above the CH-R in the range as a natural extension to the Toyota, Corolla and SUV family. Toyota promises Corolla Cross will be a versatile, modern and capable car that it expects will sell very well. Hold on to your hats!
EXPECT COROLLA CROSS TO SELL WELL
The front-wheel drive Cross shares the Corolla sedan and hatchback TNGA GA-C platform We did once ask Toyota SA if the Cross Corolla was coming to SA and we received a terribly long reply back which boiled down to this car being under consideration. We reckoned it was a no-brainer and we were right — Corolla Cross will now become a most significant seller in SA.
Toyota also confirmed a broader Gazoo performance range including the wild new GR Yaris and a powered-up GR Supra, as well as a second new Suzuki-based model in the new Urban Cruiser, while a new new IS will see Lexus chasing higher sales volumes.