Marko Hanželic
Toyota Corolla went on sale in Japan with new equipment Active Sports. The special edition brings a sportier look, more equipment and a sharper suspension setup – just like the equipment GR Sport, which is available in other markets.
Toyota Corolla Active Sport it is available in sedan and station wagon (Touring Sports) body styles, but not as a station wagon. Both models are distinguished from other versions by a redesigned front bumper with artificial vents on the sides of the large central intake, which mimics the facelifted model GR Racing. They also feature Active Sport logo side moldings, piano black accents throughout the body and ride on a new set of 17-inch alloy wheels finished in black. Finally, the color palette is limited to white, black and gray shades, which can be combined with a black roof.
It is interesting that the tag Active Sports optional on the tailgate. In general, the compact model looks sportier than the production one thanks to the design features, without copying the flagship GR Corolla with an extended body.
It's inside Toyota added a pair of front sport seats with integrated headrests and distinctive headrests. They are upholstered in synthetic leather and “Blancnove”, with gray stitching and aluminum-style inserts that contrast with the all-black interior. The same material was used on the dashboard, and there are also aluminum pedals and optional branded floor mats.
Despite the sporty style Toyota Corolla Active Sport it does not bring any increased performance compared to standard models. It retains the 1,8-liter hybrid powertrain in two-wheel-drive versions and four-wheel drive (E-Four). The only mechanical update comes to front-wheel drive models, which receive new suspension tuning and optimized steering for a more fun ride.
Toyota Corolla Active Sport can already be ordered at Japan, and prices range from ¥3.140.300 (US$20.703) for the 2WD sedan to ¥3.388.300 (US$22.343) for the E-Four Touring variant.
