Toyota T&T Ltd hopes its new range of Corolla sedans will excite existing clientele, while luring young and trendy customers in a robust automobile market, general manager Nicholas Mc Donald said on Tuesday.McDonald said the Toyota name already stood above all others in the local market because of consistent attention to quality, durability and reliability and the company was proud to bring the re-imagined legacy vehicle to the driving public.
"With this new-generation car, Toyota has pursued a more global feel with focus being on retaining existing Corolla owners whilst presenting a more bold and exciting look to attract the younger buyers out there," he said."The reason behind this was, it was found that whilst the current generation Corolla was excellent, it lacked excitement and flair. It was felt that it needed dramatic visual impact. With this model we want to exceed customer expectations."
Mc Donald was speaking at the launch of the 2014 model at Toyota T&T's Barataria headquarters.He said the unveiling of the next generation Corolla followed careful study of different markets and feedback from existing owners, in addition to an examination of the needs of the digital consumer.
The new Corolla comes with improved suspension, a new flex lock automatic transmission that supports improved fuel efficiency and electronic power steering with speed-sensitive logic. The new 1.6 litre dual VVT-I engine was designed for enhanced performance and fuel savings."When the new-generation Corolla was announced, every market in our region and around the globe was lit up with excitement," Mc Donald said.
"This car was the pinnacle of Toyota's sales success in the new world. After being launched for export in 1966, this little giant raced rapidly into markets across the world and has become the most-loved car on the planet"Bari Khan, sales manager at Toyota, said introduction of the legendary brand to the world market almost five decades ago was due to the genius of chief engineer Tatsuo Hasegawa whose mission was for the brand to contribute to the happiness and welfare of people around the world.
Khan said: "Today as we launch the 11th generation Corolla, I am proud to say that Hasegawa's vision still lives on. In 1966, Corollas were sold in only seven countries. Today, it is sold in over 154 countries throughout the world with over 40 million units sold worldwide. Out of the 40 million units sold, 26 million units are still in use. This bears testament to the quality, durability and reliability of the Toyota brand."