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| Toyota hopes for 30 percent diesel take-up |
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Much more impressive is the new 1.4-litre D-4D turbodiesel. This Euro IV-compliant engine develops 89bhp, exactly the same amount as the 2.0-litre D-4D that it replaces. The engine, available from September 2004, develops maximum power at a relaxed 3800rpm and maximum 140lb ft of torque from as low as 1800rpm. And don't let that small displacement fool you, because here is one willing little oil-burner. We tried the 1.4 D-4D over a series of mountainous, winding B-Roads and motorways running through the big-sky country around Barcelona and found ourselves deeply impressed with its lusty response and ability to maintain a very fast motorway cruise without constant downshifts. Even better, the handling felt more agile and responsive than that of the old 2.0-litre D-4D, partly because the 1.4 is a significant 72kg lighter. And official figures indicate that it produces just 127g/km of emissions whilst returning a combined 57.6mpg, again far superior to the old 2.0-litre engine. No wonder that Toyota GB reckons the 1.4 D-4D will help increase the percentage of diesel take-up from 11 to 30 percent.
Another significant first for diesel-powered Corollas is the availability of the Multi-mode Manual Transmission (MMT). This clutch pedal-less manual transmission can operate as a fully automatic in normal or sport mode, or as a manual sequential-shift gearbox. Compared to a regular automatic transmission, the MMT is at least 25 percent lighter, and so will be more efficient and produce fewer emissions.
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| Toyota claims a quieter cabin |
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Toyota also claims that the latest Corolla is also quieter than ever before, with noise, vibration and harshness levels coming down thanks to the use of thicker sound deadening material around certain bits of the body, as well as acoustic glass on some models.
This is a big effort for a car just two years into its life, and a good indication of how crucial the Corolla is to the company's fortunes. In fact, Toyota GB's marketing men reckon that the C-Segment cars (Corolla, Focus, Astra et al) define the customer's perception of the brand as a whole. Hence the focus on keeping it fresh.
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