- More than 57 million Corollas sold worldwide.
- Twelve generations since the 1966 debut.
- Built in 14 production centres, 11 countries.
- Current Corolla range is hybrid.
- Exclusive 60th Anniversary editions mark the milestone.
More than 57 million Corollas have been sold worldwide since the nameplate first appeared in 1966, more than any other car, earning it the title of “the world’s best-selling car”. Twelve generations on, the model is manufactured in 14 production centres in 11 countries, and the current hybrid range is being marked with exclusive 60th Anniversary editions.
Origins of the Toyota Corolla
The car was conceived in early-1960s Japan, as the population passed 100 million and new suburbs made car ownership both desirable and necessary for many. Toyota built a dedicated factory, the Takaoka plant in Toyota City, with Chief Engineer Tatsuo Hasegawa overseeing the project. The aim was a high-quality, versatile car at an affordable price.
Revealed at the 1966 Tokyo Motor Show, the first Corolla was launched in Japan in November that year as a two-door sedan with a 1.1-litre engine producing 60bhp. Its name refers to a flower’s crown of petals. A four-door sedan and a wagon followed in 1967, then the Corolla Sprinter fastback coupe in 1968. Within three years, it had become Japan’s best-selling car.
Second to fourth generation Corolla
The second generation arrived in 1970, coinciding with one million sales, and added the Levin, the first sports model, with a 114bhp twin-overhead cam 1.6-litre engine. From 1971, manufacturing partner Caetano assembled cars from complete knock-down kits in Portugal, and 2.4 million units of this generation were built. Its successor, from 1974, was the first Corolla designed using wind-tunnel testing and the first with passive safety features such as crumple zones, with production exceeding 3.75 million units. The fourth generation brought rack-and-pinion steering and, in 1982, a 1.8-litre diesel engine.
Front-wheel drive and the AE86 coupe
Computer design arrived with the fifth generation in May 1983, which also introduced front-wheel drive to create cabin space for five adults. Rear-wheel drive versions stayed in the line-up for a sportier drive, among them the AE86 coupe, the last front-engined, rear-wheel drive Corolla.
For the sixth generation, from 1987, the design theme was “wide and low”, with rounder styling, a rake-adjustable steering wheel and the first four-wheel drive options. Buyers could choose from six petrol engines and one diesel, spanning 64 to 143bhp.
Corolla hybrid range today
The current line-up is hybrid and combines efficiency, safety and digital connectivity. Exclusive 60th Anniversary editions celebrate the milestone, and Toyota says the Corolla has the prospect of many more sales to come.
Supplied by Newspress UK (Toyota)
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