All-new Toyota Corolla Verso Details

Press Release

Dynamic design, ingenious modularity and superior quality

• Corolla Verso is a totally new car for a new customer
• New package brings unprecedented dynamic feel
• Unique thinking innovates in style and versatility

The new-generation Toyota Corolla Verso is a totally new car. It takes over from the outgoing model not just with a list of improvements and enhancements. This vehicle represents an entirely new philosophy - a complete "out of the box" way of thinking has been adopted by Toyota's designers and engineers to bring to its customers a new and innovative car that sets new standards in family motoring. The new Toyota Corolla Verso is a fully-fledged, seven-seat multi-purpose vehicle but with an uncompromised driving enjoyment that will please the most demanding hatchback owners. The latest in new technology and high standards of passive and active safety represent other strong area of this product. In short, it is a car that defines new standards in terms of versatility, modularity, flexibility and resourcefulness, all packaged in a dynamic and elegant design.

Positioning

The new Corolla Verso's target is to expand Toyota's share of the compact MPV market and to make a further contribution to Toyota's outstanding sales success in Europe. Its "raison d'être" is the new type of customers it intends to attract: active adults who live their lives to the full and are looking for something more special than just another hatchback or MPV. And to do that, Toyota creates that special "must-have" feel to the style that makes this car so special as of the first glance. Additionally, the new Corolla Verso will provide a quality feel that will boost pride of ownership. The new Toyota Corolla Verso will be available throughout Europe with two equipment levels. Both of them deliver the features that the most demanding customers would expect from a compact MPV as standard, complemented by a thoughtful list of optionals (please check Equipment List for further information).

Exterior design

The new Toyota Corolla Verso's exterior design is the result of a worldwide competition promoted by Toyota. While Toyota Motor Corporation's design studios in Japan created two proposals, two others were presented by Techno Art Research and Toyota Europe Design Development (ED2), Toyota's design studio in Europe. In the end, ED2 would be the winner of this worldwide competition. The main responsible for the exterior design was the Italian Elvio D'Aprile. This 38 year-old designer started his career at Pininfarina, where he took part in projects like the Ferrari 550 Maranello, being also with Porsche for some years. In July 1994, Elvio joined Toyota. His work at Toyota captures some of the dynamism from the sportscar world. Before the new Toyota Corolla Verso, Elvio D'Aprile was also the creator of the Toyota UUV, a revolutionary SUV concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show two years ago. Elvio's creativity comes from his emotions: "Instead of looking for sources of inspiration, I prefer to concentrate on finding good ideas by using my emotions applied to quick sketches. At the same time, I keep in mind other exterior factors like design trends and target customer's profile." The initial briefing for the exterior design of the new Corolla Verso was quite clear: it should have enough emotional appeal in order to give a different image of the people who buy an MPV for space, but don't want to give up on style. According to Elvio D'Aprile, the exterior design is formed by two entities. The lower part, comprised by the underbumper, wheel arches and rocker panel, is massive and robust, somehow influenced by SUV design elements. The upper part provides a dynamic stance, characterized by the curved roof and third quarter window. The familiar Toyota bulge on the bonnet becomes even more pronounced, a trend that will be seen in other Toyota models to come. The typical shape of the triangle quarter window and the rear lamp with "inverted L" shape also express Toyota's design identity. Like other Toyota models, the new Corolla Verso integrates the front bumper and grille into a single part and the hood is placed as backward as possible - this not only achieves a better integration, but also provides improved pedestrian protection. "However, the exterior design doesn't focus just on Toyota design elements. It also intends to create feelings that customers will perceive day by day, when using their car for their fun or business, with family or alone. We trust that this approach will make our product unique", stated Elvio D'Aprile. The car's proportions seem just right - length, width and height were adjusted in order to provide a very dynamic stance, with strong presence. The low-riding body is accentuated by the impressive 16-inch or 17-inch wheels and large tyres. These features distinctly dissociate the new Corolla Verso from the conventional "boxy" people carriers. Tread and wheelbase have been increased over the current Corolla Verso to further improve driving pleasure - the wheelbase is among the largest in the segment, which is essential in achieving a good interior roominess. The new Corolla Verso is also one of the widest compact MPVs, which makes it possible to accommodate three adults in the 2nd row seats in full comfort and enhances driving stability. Exterior height was also slightly increased. In spite of the increase in exterior dimensions and the attractive exterior design, the new Corolla Verso delivers the best aerodynamic coefficient in the segment: 0.30. This new model is available with a selection of 10 exterior colours. Two of them (Storm Bronze and Frost Blue) are new and exclusively available in the new Corolla Verso.