60 years. 12 generations. One Corolla.

No car in history has matched the achievement of the Toyota Corolla, which in 60 years has amassed more than 57 million sales – and has the prospect of many more.

Since the original model made its debut in 1966, more cars have carried the Corolla nameplate than any other, earning it the title of “the world’s best-selling car”.

That remarkable achievement, generation by generation, has included a large variety of vehicle types, meeting diverse customer tastes and preferences worldwide, from family sedans and hatchbacks to sports coupes and station wagons.

Corolla’s sustained success is founded on the principles that Toyota applied in creating the original model back in 1966. The vision then was for a high-quality, versatile car at an affordable price. Today, 12 generations later, it remains true to those qualities, having constantly adapted over the years to maintain its place at the heart of the market.

COROLLA HISTORY, GENERATION BY GENERATION

The Corolla story begins

In the early 1960s Japan was booming. It was a time of rebuilding, innovation and new prosperity. As the population grew to more than 100 million, society was becoming more aspirational and keen to adopt new ideas and products.

Cities grew with new suburbs, making car ownership both desirable and necessary for many. Toyota saw an opportunity to develop a new kind of car, one that didn’t just serve as reliable, functional transport, but was comfortable, enjoyable to drive, technologically advanced, well- equipped, and modern.

This groundbreaking model was the Corolla, a perfect example of the enduring Toyota principle of providing the right car, in the right place, at the right time.

Toyota demonstrated its commitment to the new model by building a dedicated factory, the Takaoka plant in Toyota City. Quality procedures were rigorous, with a requirement for each car to achieve better than a benchmark average points score at each stage of the assembly process.

Overseeing the project was Chief Engineer Tatsuo Hasegawa, who ensured Toyota’s vision was realised. The scene was set for the birth of Corolla and the start of a motoring legend.

First generation: 1966 - 1970

The original Corolla was conceived as a “people’s car” but in fact offered much more than mass-market customers were used to. Developed from an original concept in 1962, it was revealed at the 1966 Tokyo Motor Show and launched in Japan in November that year, entering production at the new factory.

Its name was inspired by the word describing a flower's crown of petals, widely considered the most beautiful part of the flower.

The original Corolla range consisted of a two-door sedan when the model was launched in, powered by a 1.1-litre engine producing 60 DIN hp. In 1967, Toyota expanded the line-up with a four-door sedan and a wagon. In 1968, the range gained the sportier Corolla Sprinter fastback coupe. Innovative features included a floor-mounted four-speed manual transmission – a first for a Japanese car – disc brakes, bucket seats, multi-point seatbelts and two-speed wipers. Toyota already had export ambitions for Corolla, reflected in the modern styling with a semi-fastback roof line and curved surfaces.

In just three years, Corolla became Japan’s best-selling car.

Second generation: 1970 - 1974

The Japanese car market was booming when Toyota presented the second generation Corolla in 1970. It coincided with the milestone of the model achieving one million sales since its launch. The new model demonstrated Toyota’s Kaizen continuous improvement philosophy, with a focus on improving safety, comfort and practicality.

This generation saw the addition of a two-door coupe, and the first sports model, the full fastback Levin (a word for a bolt of lightning), powered by a 115 DIN hp twin-overhead cam 1.6-litre engine.

Notable features included a revised suspension system, new powertrains and high-back front seats with integrated head rests. This was the first Corolla to be offered with an AM/FM stereo radio, air conditioning, windscreen washers and rear-door child locks. It also came with a larger, 45-litre fuel tank to make longer journeys more convenient.

It was a huge success, with 2.4 million units built. From 1971, Toyota’s manufacturing partner Caetano assembled cars from complete knock-down kits in Portugal.

Third generation: 1974 - 1979

With Corolla now firmly established at the heart of the market and achieving annual export sales of more than 300,000 units, Toyota’s intention was to deliver “the ultimate family car” with the third generation. Higher levels of safety and comfort were the priorities. New emissions regulations called for new engines to be developed, with Toyota developing an exhaust catalyst for the “Toyota Total Clean System”.

This was the first Corolla to be designed using wind-tunnel testing, resulting in a more aerodynamic, angular body.

The customer choice was greater than ever, with the addition of a pillar-less coupe and the availability of hardtops and semi-fastbacks in the mid-range, rather than being reserved for top-specification models. A new Liftback linked multi-purpose practicality with sportiness.

Cabins were quieter with improvements in noise and vibration and featured centralised controls and padded instrument panels. This was also the first Corolla to be designed with passive safety features, including an impact-absorbing body, crumple zones and emergency locking seatbelts.

Third generation production exceeded 3.75 million units.

Fourth generation: 1979 - 1983

At the turn of the decade, market demand was for more up-market models, but with better fuel economy a priority in the wake of an international oil crisis. Toyota responded with a fourth-generation Corolla that made advances in all areas, in particular handling and powertrains.

This was the first Corolla to feature rack-and-pinion steering and to replace rear leaf springs with a new multi-link system with coil springs. It was also the first to adopt a diesel engine, a 1.8-litre unit with high thermal efficiency and fuel economy that joined the range in 1982. Style-wise, the new model was distinguished by its sleek lines, slanting nose and high rear deck. In the cabin, higher quality materials were used, and convenience was enhanced with the introduction of split-folding rear seats in the coupe and liftback.

Fifth generation: 1983 - 1987

Debuting in May 1983, the fifth generation targeted a younger generation of drivers and delivered the most comprehensive model change in Corolla’s history. For the first time, Toyota used computer technology to design the exterior and develop powertrains and control systems.

Corolla became available with front-wheel drive, allowing cabin space and comfort to be optimised. Rear-wheel drive versions remained in the line-up for those wanting a sportier drive. The cabin was designed to seat five adults in comfort, with space gained by lowering the floor, moving the steering wheel forwards and fitting a more upright rear window. Power-assisted steering was available, together with central locking, power-operated windows and a sunroof.

The fifth generation included the legendary AE86 coupe, the last front engine/rear-wheel drive Corolla – details in a dedicated chapter below.

Sixth generation: 1987 - 1991

As customers sought ever-higher quality, the sixth generation Corolla set out to exceed expectations more than any previous generation. Every aspect of the car was redesigned to raise luxury, comfort and quality standards. Key elements were a choice of characterful body styles to suit different customer profiles; fun-to-drive performance; and quality that appealed to all the senses.

Externally, the design theme was “wide and low” with the straight lines of previous generations replaced with a more rounded look. Inside, tactile velours and thick upholstery materials raised the comfort level, while ergonomics were brought into play in defining the shape, location and operating feel of the controls.

Digital optimisation of the body reduced noise and vibration, while the ventilation system regulated both cabin air quality and temperature. New features included a rake-adjustable steering wheel, height-adjustable seatbelts and driver’s seat lumbar support. An extensive line-up spanned the range from sedans, a coupe and hatchbacks to a wagon and van. All had front-wheel drive, plus the first four-wheel drive options. The engine choice was unparalleled – six petrol and one diesel across a power range from 64 to 145 DIN hp.

Seventh generation: 1992 - 1995

Toyota sought to consolidate Corolla’s strengths with a seventh generation model that benefited from improvements across the board. It was larger, faster, safer and quieter than its predecessors and was the first to be influenced by the prestige qualities of Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand that had been introduced in 1989.

For the first time, suspension and powertrain development teams were integrated and specific track testing took place to achieve European-style handling performance. The bodywork was more curvaceous than ever, with the sedan design inspired by the Lexus LS 400 limousine. The bodywork used less panels and tighter gaps, while the interior offered more space all round and a co-ordinated look. The suspension was reworked to take the car’s larger dimensions into account, and wheel sizes were increased to 14 inches. From September 1994, a driver’s airbag became standard equipment as Toyota pursued higher safety provisions.

Eighth generation: 1995 - 2000

Toyota made a strategic change with the eighth-generation car, moving away from developing it as a global model to producing versions specifically designed for the European market, with direct input from European design teams. It also marked the start of full-scale local Corolla production in Europe., (further details in the chapter below).

The model’s development was influenced by increasing environmental concerns and the need to reduce weight and achieve higher levels of fuel and emissions efficiency. Weight savings were helped by the introduction of high-strength but lightweight steel in the car’s structure. Ownership costs were another key factor, so Toyota made the car simpler to service and repair. This was the first Corolla to make satellite navigation available as an option.

Ninth generation: 2000 – 2006

With the ninth-generation Corolla, Toyota signalled a break with the past, creating a car to new standards for the new millennium. Europe was a key target market and the car’s exterior design was developed there with a “youthful and refined” design theme. Key elements included a new platform and flush merging of the glass, pillars and roof to create a premium look that was also aero-efficient. Quality details included Optitron instrumentation, as used in Lexus models.

The European line-up included three and five-door hatchbacks built in the UK and a sedan and MPV – the Corolla Verso – manufactured in Turkey. Nine powertrains were produced, including a D-4D common rail diesel and a 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol in the sports hatch, the T Sport.

Tenth generation: 2007 – 2012

The 10th generation model went by different names in different markets: while known as Corolla in some parts of the world, it was launched in Japan and Europe as the Auris three and five-door hatchback (the sedan remained a Corolla).

Toyota produced what it called an “inside-out” design in which priority was given to interior space. The initial engine choice featured 1.4 and new 1.6-litre VVT-i units, while the flagship model was powered by a 2.2-litre D-4D diesel and used a bespoke multi-link rear suspension system. Safety levels were higher than ever before, including the introduction of a driver’s knee airbag. Air conditioning, reclining rear seats and new electric power steering were among the standard features. Customers could opt for a new multi-mode transmission on certain versions, with manual gear selection using paddle shifts.

In 2010 Toyota introduced the Auris Hybrid hatchback, the first Toyota hybrid vehicle to be mass-produced in Europe. Built by Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK, it introduced Toyota’s quiet, refined and highly efficient powertrain to the heart of the European car market and set the template for the roll-out of hybrid power across the entire Toyota model range.

Eleventh generation: 2013 – 2018

The Corolla, known as Auris in the European region, continued into its 11th generation with a complete redesign. Development focused on honing the driving dynamics through improved weight management and chassis tuning, creating a car that delivered more rewarding driver feedback. Designed primarily in Europe for European customers, the new line-up included a wagon – the Touring Sports – for the first time since the eighth-generation Corolla.

The powertrain choices included the full hybrid, diesel and petrol. Once again, fuel economy and emissions performance were enhanced through engine tuning, weight savings and aerodynamic improvements. The new hybrid achieved class-leading CO₂ figures of just 87 g/km. The Auris also found its way to the USA where it was marketed as the Scion iM (later the Corolla M) and given a strong sports profile with lowered suspension and a full body kit.

Twelfth generation: 2019 to date

The 12^th generation Corolla was launched with hatchback, Touring Sports and sedan models continuing in production in the UK and Turkey. Built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) C-platform, the Corolla benefited from a lower centre of gravity and greater body rigidity, significantly improving handling agility, responsiveness and ride comfort. It also introduced a new dual hybrid strategy, giving Hatchback and Touring Sports customers the choice of 1.8 and 2.0-litre hybrid systems to suit their preferences for optimum efficiency or higher performance. From launch, this Corolla was exclusively a hybrid model in Europe.

The styling programme created a more dynamic look for the hatchback and Touring Sports while the sedan offered a more prestigious look. This was the first Corolla to offer a GR Sport equipment grade, giving the car a stronger sports look inspired by GAZOO Racing, Toyota’s championship-winning international motorsports arm. Since launch in 2019, the European Corolla family has grown to include the Corolla Cross SUV.

THE COROLLA AE86: THE DRIVER’S CAR THAT BECAME A CULTURAL ICON

• Revered as an affordable and hugely rewarding driver’s car

• Classic front engine/rear-wheel drive set-up, with high-revving multi-valve 1.6-litre engine

• The “Hachi-Roku” legend sustained in popular culture through the Initial D Anime and Manga series

Among the hundreds of different Corolla models that have been produced over the past 60 years, the AE86 stands apart as a model acclaimed as an exceptional driver’s car. More than that, its fame has spread beyond the automotive world through its representation in the Initial D Anime and Manga series, elevating it to the status of a modern Japanese cultural icon.

The model was part of the fifth generation Corolla series from 1983 to 1987, presented in Levin and Trueno sports liftback forms and as a notchback coupe. In Europe it was marketed as the Corolla GT and GTi. The car’s sleek, wedge-shape design, low-slung driving position and playful handling made it a popular success.

The AE86 had a classic front engine/rear-wheel drive sports car configuration, weighed less than one tonne and had an ideal front-rear weight balance. Its 1.6-litre 4A-GE double-overhead camshaft in-line four-cylinder engine was equipped with electronic fuel injection and produced a maximum 130 DIN hp and 149 Nm of torque. This high-revving unit could accelerate the car from rest to 100 km/h in around 8.3 seconds, with progress accompanied by a rasping exhaust note. Servo-assisted, ventilated disc brakes ensured stopping power appropriate for its speed; a limited-slip differential was available as an option.

Unsurprisingly, the AE86 proved to be a highly capable car in motorsport in both rally and racetrack competition. It also became a hero model in the world of drifting competition. Its reputation was enhanced by its appearance in the Initial D series from 1995 where the hero character drove an AE86 as a tofu delivery vehicle during the day and as a drifting machine by night.

The meaning of AE86 and Hachi-Roku

AE86 is a Toyota code: A denotes the engine series and E86 the version within the eighth generation of the Corolla series. In Japan, the car became known simply as the “Hachi-Roku” (86), the start of a Toyota sports model reference that was revived with the launch of the GT86 and GR86 coupes more than three decades later.

The AE86 today

Recognising the enduring significance and popularity of the AE86, GAZOO Racing manufactures replica heritage parts to help owners keep their cars on the road, including driveshafts, differentials and cylinder blocks.

Forty years on from the original model’s launch, GAZOO Racing presented radical technical transformations of the original coupe at the 2023 Tokyo Auto Salon. The AE86 Carbon Neutral Project equipped two coupes with new powertrains: the AE86 H2 Concept with a hydrogen combustion engine and the AE86 BEV concept with a battery electric system and manual transmission, demonstrating how new zero-emission technologies can be adopted while retaining traditional driving rewards.

FROM THE HIGHWAY TO RALLY STAGE AND RACETRACK: COROLLA IN MOTORSPORT

• Championship-winning success in race and rally competition

• Corolla wins Toyota the 1999 World Rally Championship manufacturers’ title

• Toyota using Corolla in Japanese endurance racing to test new hydrogen combustion engine technology

Although not defined as a sports model, the Corolla has enjoyed success in motorsport at world level, most notably with Toyota Team Europe (TTE) under the leadership of Swedish rallying legend Ove Andersson.

Before the founding of TTE in 1975, it was a Corolla that claimed Toyota’s first victory in the World Rally Championship (WRC). A second-generation Corolla, based on the road-going 1600 SR model, entered and won the Press-on-Regardless Rally in the USA.

A TTE-entered Corolla began to enjoy success in local European events in 1975, before claiming the team’s first WRC victory at the 1,000 Lakes Rally, the precursor of today’s Rally Finland. The winning car was a 1.6-litre Corolla Levin driven by Hannu Mikkola, who prevailed in a close battle with rivals from Ford and Saab.

International motorsport rules limited Corolla's potential as a WRC contender, so it was successive Celica models that claimed glory. A turning point came in 1997 when new rules allowed teams to install engines that were not used in the production versions of their cars. Thus, the European Corolla AE111 was equipped with a 2.0-litre unit and went on to win three events in 1998 and claim the WRC manufacturers’ title for Toyota in 1999.

Corolla has proved its quality as a racing car, too, competing in national, European and world touring car championships. Notably, the Corolla AE86 (GT) won back-to-back series in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in 1986 and 1987. A current Corolla has competed in the BTCC since 2019.

Since 2021, Toyota and ROOKIE Racing have competed with a hydrogen-fuelled GR Corolla H2 Concept in Japan’s Super Taikyu endurance racing series. The competition is helping Toyota develop hydrogen combustion engine technology that can help retain the traditional sounds, power and driving experience of performance engines with near-zero carbon emissions.

A KEY MODEL FOR TOYOTA IN EUROPE

• First produced in Europe in 1971 from complete knock-down kits
• Full-scale European Corolla manufacturing since 1994
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK is the European centre for Corolla hatchback and Touring Sports production
• Corolla Sedan production by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey
• Almost 9.5 million Corolla sales in Europe to date

Europe was recognised as a valuable market for the Corolla from the car’s early development stage and the first models were shipped to the region in April 1967. From 1971, cars were produced from complete knock-down kits by Toyota’s manufacturing partner Caetano in Portugal.

Through the 1970s and 1980s, new Corolla models were designed and engineered to better suit European driving conditions and market preferences. Sales grew steadily as Corolla evolved, leading to the launch of full-scale European production in Turkey in 1994, true to Toyota’s philosophy of making cars local to the markets where they will be sold and driven.

Toyota’s investment in Europe has helped propel Corolla sales in the region to a total of almost 9.5 million to date – around one in six of all Corolla models sold worldwide.

Today, Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) is the European centre for Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports production. It also manufactures a local van conversion – the Corolla Commercial – and the high-performance GR Corolla for export to North America.

The Burnaston car plant in Derbyshire began making Corolla with the eighth-generation liftback and three-door hatchback models from 1998, progressing to the ninth generation from 2001. Auris production commenced in 2007 and in 2010 TMUK had the distinction of becoming Toyota’s first European centre for hybrid vehicle production.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey (TMMT) began building the seventh-generation Corolla at its Adapazari plant in Sakarya from 1994 and continued with production of the eighth and ninth generations (including the wagon and Corolla Verso) and the 11^th and current generations.

Today, Corolla production at TMMT is focused on the Sedan, manufactured alongside the Toyota C-HR.

COROLLA TODAY: 60^th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITIONS

• Toyota marks Corolla’s 60^th anniversary with limited edition models

• European-built Hatchback, Touring Sports and Sedan models featuring unique styling elements, enhanced standard equipment specifications and commemorative badging

• Styling for global models created in Europe at Toyota’s Brussels design studio

To mark Corolla’s 60th anniversary, Toyota is producing special edition versions of the Hatchback, Touring Sports and Sedan, featuring unique styling elements, commemorative badging and enhanced standard equipment specifications.

The 60th Anniversary versions of the Hatchback and Touring Sports, built in the UK by Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK, are immediately distinguished from other Corolla models by their exclusive New Boreal Blue metallic paint, presented in a bi-tone execution with a contrasting Night Sky Black roof and pillars.

Their special status is also expressed in new-look 10-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels with a contrast matt and machined finish and chromed black wheel nuts.

Corolla’s sporty styling is highlighted by new matt silver garnishes on the lower front bumper and side sills and dark-plated fog light ornaments and back door and rear bumper corner garnishes. The Touring Sports adds an extra matt silver highlight on the lower rear bumper. Externally, the finishing touch is provided by stylish matt silver 60th Anniversary decals on the lower edge of the rear doors.

Inside the car, there are sleek matt silver scuff plates bearing the 60th Anniversary logo and front and rear carpet mats in black textile with co-ordinating matt silver inserts.

The sophisticated Corolla Sedan, produced by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey, has its own signature Lunar Sky Blue paint finish and shares most of the special styling features with its sister Hatchback and Touring Sports models, including the external garnish details, 17-inch wheels, 60th Anniversary badging, scuff plates and carpet mats. In addition, there is a matt silver highlight strip along the bottom edge of the boot lid.

Customers have further paintwork colour options for the 60th Anniversary models – Platinum White Pearl premium finish and Ash Grey metallic.

The Corolla’s hybrid system delivers characteristically quiet, smooth and highly efficient performance. Hatchback and Touring Sports customers have 1.8 hybrid and 1.5 petrol powertrain options, according to their local market availability.

A high equipment specification for the latest Corolla range provides a fully digital user experience as standard with a customisable 12.3-inch driver’s combimeter and the Toyota Smart Connect+ multimedia system with 10.5-inch touchscreen. The multimedia package includes access to cloud-based navigation, benefiting from up-to-the-moment traffic information, together with an embedded route planning system.

A comprehensive package of Toyota T-Mate active safety and driving assistance systems is also provided as standard. This includes Toyota Safety Sense features designed to recognise and react to an extensive range of common accident risk scenarios, alerting the driver and helping them avoid or mitigate the consequences of an impact. The functions include a Pre-Collision System with Intersection Collision Avoidance, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert and Lane Trace Assist, Emergency Steering Assist and Road Sign Assist. New and enhanced safety and multimedia functions are delivered seamlessly with over-the-air updates.

The 60th Anniversary Corolla models are available to order now, with deliveries to customers from the end of October.

TOYOTA COROLLA CONCEPT

• Toyota Corolla Concept revealed at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show

• Concept designed to accommodate multiple powertrain options

• Design guided by “Max Vision” and “Max Space” themes

The Corolla story is set to continue, with Toyota exploring radical ideas about how the model might evolve in the future with the unveiling of the Toyota Corolla Concept at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show.

Speaking at the concept’s unveiling, Koji Sato, then Toyota Motor Corporation President, explained how Corolla has always been the perfect representation of Toyota’s people-focused manufacturing spirit – in Japanese, its Monozukuri.

He said: “Regardless of its look or body type, it has always been the Corolla. That’s why the Corolla has always been ‘a car for everyone’.”

The key ideas that guided the concept’s creation were “max vision” and “max space” – developing a vehicle that is compact yet feels spacious; highly architectural yet warm and domestic; and minimalist yet full of personality, with objects that create emotional value, almost like a living room or tiny studio apartment – reflected in a striking exterior design with a large, steeply raked windscreen and a spacious interior with a low instrument panel.