Well, we just started to receive the 2008 Corolla brochures, and allocations, and it is still the same vehicle. Looks like the new generation will now be 2009's and come out Feb 2008.

 

Wow. The Corolla really needs an update, although since it's still selling so well, I suppose a case can be made to keep it as is for as long as possible, for higher profits (they've written off the tooling and engineering costs eons ago), and to make sure the new version is done correctly.

 

it's not that old of a body style since 03 model year.

 

I heard recently that Toyota has some sort of nifty keen new engine technology they are trying out, potentially in some unspecified new model. The new engine will have more power AND better fuel economy, and will be first available in a 2.0 liter. The current Corolla has a 1.8, so this new engine might be in the 2009 model (same fuel economy, much more power).

Also, 2008 is a bad year to introduce anything new that's fuel efficient, due to the recalculation of the MPG numbers on the sticker for model year 08. You could get better fuel economy in the new model, yet have worse numbers on the sticker than the previous model due to the new test procedure.

 

the new corolla is supposed to receive the new dual vvti 1.8

 

they have the new dual vvt-i in the current 5.7L tundra.. which gets more power AND better fuel economy than the 4.7L!!

(if you want a tundra.. why settle? get the biggest one! )

and the new xD will recieve the dual-vvti in it's 1.8L..
(which has more power and better fuel economy than its xA's 1.5L predecessor)

 

well duh!

 

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/h...-auriscorolla/

This is interesting that Toyota is considering an AWD V6 corolla. The fact that Toyota has been swapping know-how with Subaru, in particular, Subaru's AWD know-how only furthers my suspicions:

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/i...ping-know-how/

The second they announce it im putting my deposit down.

 

Well a v6 corolla is possible. The new Blade which is based of the Auris and Corolla platform is rumor to get the 3.5L V6. Engine choice for the new Corolla has also expanded. If the Blade can take a 2.4L engine, the Auris can and the Corolla should. The new xB is Corolla based (on the new platform) and has the 2.4L.

 

So the question I've been trying to figure out is whether we will get a rebadged Auris, the Japanese Toyota Blade, or a whole new North America only model.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Auris

"The Auris will be marketed to the U.S in late 2008 as a 2009 model, and will replace the outgoing Toyota Matrix, which will be discontinued after 2008. It will be called the Toyota Blade."

I know Wikipedia isn't the defining source, but it claims we will get a rebadged Auris, but retain the Blade name.

 

I heard that we will get a reskined Blade to replace the Matrix.

 

I hope it's just a rebadged Blade or Auris instead of a crappy Americanized car like the matrix.