Next-Gen Toyota Corolla Concept
The Toyota Corolla has worn many faces since its debut in 1966. Over the decades, it’s taken the form of a hatchback, sedan, wagon, and coupe.
In some regions, it even appeared as a compact minivan or liftback with three or five doors. This versatility across body styles has been key to its enduring success, helping Toyota deliver more than 55 million units globally, securing the Corolla’s title as the best-selling car in automotive history.
Now, the Corolla nameplate is preparing for one of its most dramatic reinventions yet. Unveiled as a concept at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, this thirteenth-generation preview hints at a bold new era for the model.
Riding on large 21-inch Y-spoke wheels, the futuristic sedan showcases Toyota’s evolving design direction and technological ambition. True to the Corolla’s legacy of variety, Toyota plans to offer multiple powertrain options, including a fully electric model, as well as full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.
Interestingly, Toyota also intends to keep a pure internal combustion engine (ICE) variant in the lineup—and hasn’t dismissed the idea of one powered by carbon-neutral fuel.
While technical details remain scarce, the company has confirmed it’s developing a new family of 1.5- and 2.0-liter engines that will be lighter, smaller, and more efficient than current units. Given the Corolla’s global importance, it’s likely these next-generation engines will make their debut under its hood.
Visually, the concept marks a radical departure from the conservative lines of the outgoing model. If not for the Corolla badging on the rear, it could easily be mistaken for an entirely new model.
Its sleek, sharply contoured body features an integrated trunk spoiler and full-width light bars at both ends, while the descending beltline toward the side mirrors and frameless windows lend it a distinctly premium appeal.
One of the concept’s most intriguing details is the presence of three fuel caps, two up front and one at the rear, suggesting a sophisticated plug-in hybrid setup, possibly pairing a compact combustion engine with advanced electrification.
Inside, Toyota has taken an equally daring leap forward. The interior replaces most physical buttons with touch-sensitive controls surrounding a digital instrument cluster.
All primary functions are grouped behind the steering wheel for a minimalist, driver-centric feel. The floating center console with its car-shaped gear selector resembles a design more common in minivans than traditional sedans, emphasizing practicality and innovation.
Concept cars are meant to provoke and inspire, but when an automaker attaches a production name like “Corolla” to one, it signals real intent.
While the final production version won’t be this extreme, Toyota is clearly preparing to push the Corolla’s design and technology further than ever before, a bold move for a model that has long been synonymous with reliability and restraint.
With the current generation now seven years old, the arrival of its successor isn’t far away. Industry insiders expect the next-generation Corolla to debut by late 2026 or early 2027, marking a new chapter in the evolution of Toyota’s most iconic vehicle.
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