World’s best selling car is set for its sexiest overhaul ever and will come in BEV, PHEV, Hybrid and ICE, writes Motoring Editor Philip Hedderman in Tokyo
Yes, the world’s best selling car — shifting over 50 million units around the globe since 1966 — is moving into a new era and this is how it will look.
Shifting away from a safe, sometimes cutesy look, the Japanese car giant showcased the concept (and we are told it’s very much in its very early stages) at the Tokyo Mobility Show while also outlining where the brand is heading in the future.
And the good is all embracing as the 13th generation Corolla will be built on a multi use platform that will cater for all needs — BEV, PHEV, Hybrid and ICE powertrains.
Design-wise, it’s following in the footsteps of the RAV4 and to a certain degree the new Land Cruiser, with a chiselled, more muscular look all round.
The nose is dominated by the signature LED lighting which is straight out of the Lexus play book while the angled scoop upward in the rear door has clearly been borrowed from the C-HR.
No bad thing as the Coupe High Rider is indeed a handsome car, but the real individuality comes at the rear where some could argue that they have taken styling cues from Polestar and possibly even Porseche.
Whatever way you look upon the Concept, if Toyota even follow through on 80 per cent of the design, we are in for a real treat. Expect to see rumblings in the next 12 months.
Not to be overshadowed, premium brand Lexus have also given us a sneaky peek into their future with what form the new LS may take.
The moniker initially came from Luxury Saloon, but now, it takes on the meaning of Luxury Space — and that could see it reincarnated as a hulking SUV.
In fact, it may even be bigger as the design takes on the guise of a gargantuan six-wheel monster bus which will transport you around in divine tranquillity.
Design to be chauffeur driven, this enormous vehicle intends to go extra large on sumptuousness, bespoke craftsmanship and privacy.
So why has it got six wheels and why are the rear ones smaller?
To maximise the space in the interior which looks like it was the brainchild of a Scandi designer with no budget restraints while the extra axle will add to stability.
Could a luxurious multi-van make it into production?
The short answer is yes. When you consider the demise of the executive saloon market and the rise of super premium SUVs like the Rolls Royce Cullinan and Bentley Bentayga — and Lexus are eyeing a quite a large slice of that cake.
One model which is far closer to reality is the LS Coupe which also made its debut in Tokyo. It will have the Porsche Cayenne and the BMW iX firmly in its sights should they give it the green light.
The raked silhouette is simply stunning while the suicide doors open the cabin and the passengers to a magnificent interior, while the lighting front and rear are unmistakably Lexus.
The quirky boot — which slides open like a soft touch kitchen drawer — is a talking point, but unlikely to make the final cut due to its impracticality.
On certainty though is the rebirth of the Century brand — a marque steeped in heritage, craftsmanship and Japanese industrial innovation,
It has been an unbroken thread through four generations of the Toyoda family, which makes it unique in the ultra-luxury segment.
Well, it is back with a bang only this time it has shrugged off its stuffy saloon design, and like the Phoenix (Century’s logo) has risen from the ashes as a super sumptuous coupe SUV.
In announcing Century as a standalone brand, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda emphasised that Century did not have such a clearly defined place in the past but now stands as “Top of the Top, One of One”
For Toyoda raising Century to a higher level of visibility is more than elevating the brand itself: “I believe now more than ever, we need the Century. The name is said to represent the hundredth anniversary of the Meiji era, and of the birth of Sakichi Toyoda, the Toyota Group’s founder. For me, it is about creating the next one hundred years” he said in an emotionally charged speech.
Highlighting the fact that Century is “the pride of Japan” and it’s logo signifies the rebirth of the nation after World War II, he went on to justify its place at the “Top” by sharing little production secrets like the fact that every single model gets 60 individual layers of paint — every one administered by hand.
Will we see it in Europe?
I really hope so.