The new Toyota Corolla is coming soon, and for the first time it will have electric versions to compete with BYD and Tesla

Toyota is celebrating this year the 60th anniversary of the Corolla, the best-selling car in history. With over 57 million units sold to date, the Japanese model will soon receive its thirteenth generation, which will represent a true revolution compared to previous versions, as it will offer 100% electric versions for the first time... though they won’t be the only options.

Rumors suggest that the compact Japanese car will be updated next year. While it will still be built on the current model’s TNGA-C platform, it will undergo significant changes to accommodate a full range of propulsion systems: internal combustion engines, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and, of course, electric vehicles—a technology that is crucial in markets like China and Europe.

The Corolla will continue to offer a wide range of body styles: hatchback, sedan, family version, and SUV (Corolla Cross); after all, this is a globally oriented model that must convince customers around the world. The hybrid variants will have a 10% to 20% more efficient engine than the current Corolla, and four-wheel drive versions are also possible.

The introduction of a plug-in hybrid Corolla could mean the end for the Prius, which has already been withdrawn from several markets due to low sales. The electric version, on the other hand, will have to compete with a variety of alternatives: the hatchback model will face competition from the Leapmotor B05 and Volkswagen ID.3 Neo, while the sedan version will compete with the highly popular Tesla Model 3.

The Toyota Corolla will continue to offer a wide range of body styles

The Corolla Cross, which is likely to have an emission-free variant as well, will compete in the most important segment of the European market: the C-SUV category, where it will face rivals such as the BYD Atto 3 Evo, Leapmotor B10, and the future Volkswagen ID. Tiguan. Compared to the more sporty C-HR+, the hypothetical electric Corolla Cross would focus on greater practicality.

With electric car sales soaring due to the energy crisis triggered by the Iran war, Toyota cannot afford for its best-selling model to fall behind competitors. Although the Corolla will use a multi-energy platform, the electric version is likely to incorporate some of the technological advancements developed for the new dedicated electric platform on which the company has been working for several years.

The Corolla won’t be the only Toyota model to be electrified in the near future, as the new generation of the Yaris is also expected to follow suit. It’s highly likely the same will happen with the Yaris Cross; however, the launch of this model would mean the end of the Urban Cruiser, which is produced by Suzuki in India and not available in the Spanish market.

Source | Electrek