UPDATE: The new 2008 Toyota Corolla Altis has been launched in Malaysia! – click for more details, specifications, photos and pricing.
UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd plans to launch the replacement for it’s C-segment Toyota Corolla Altis sedan sometime next year, a re-entry of sorts into the current C-segment sedan market dominated by the Honda Civic 1.8S and 2.0S.
The replacement for the Toyota Corolla Altis – called just the Corolla sedan in Europe – made it’s European debut in December 2006 at the 2006 Helsinki Motor Show shortly after it’s world debut at the 2006 Beijing Motor Show. This is not the same car as the Toyota Corolla Axio and Corolla Fielder launched in Japan earlier, as that one is a smaller car than the one we are going to get.
The new car’s silver and dark grey interior takes a leaf out of Volvo’s book with a classy-looking thin floating console, and the new meter and display panel backlighting is of an goldish-orange hue similiar to the Toyota Auris.
The C-segment sedan market currently offers cars with either 1.8 litre or 2.0 litre engines, a step up from the current Altis’s 1.6 and 1.8 litre. Under the hood of the 1.8 litre variant of the new Toyota Corolla Altis will most probably be the 136hp new Dual VVT-i 1.8 litre 2ZR-FE, which replaces the current Corolla Altis’ 1.8 litre 1ZZ-FE VVT-i engine, as this new engine has been used for the new Toyota Corolla launched in the Australia market.
If UMW Toyota decides to offer a 2.0 litre variant here, the engine could be the 2.0 litre 3ZR-FE Dual VVT-i engine making 143 PS, but if we’re really lucky we could get the Valvematic 3ZR-FAE which makes 158 PS at 6,200rpm – this would make the Toyota Corolla Altis 2.0 litre Valvematic the most powerful 2.0 litre C-segment sedan in it’s class, something Toyota could shout about in it’s marketing campaigns. The more advanced variable valve timing and lift technologies in this new family of engines will also help the car be more fuel efficient.
Bear in mind if somehow cost-cutting takes precedence over state of the art, we might just end up with the 1AZ-FE (making 152hp in it’s highest state of tune, like in the 3rd generation RAV4 for example) being dumped into the 2.0 litre’s engine bay, the same engine in the 2.0 litre Toyota Wish and the 2.0 litre Toyota Camry. But I don’t think this is very likely as it wouldn’t make sense for the 1.8 litre model to have a more advanced engine than the flagship 2.0 litre, so the 3ZR-FE Dual VVT-i without Valvematic is the minimum. Of course, the worst case scenario would be no 2.0 litre model at all.
Click the related links below to see more photos of the new Toyota Corolla Altis. Additional photos are also available in this post after the jump.
Related Posts:
New Toyota Corolla debuts in Europe
New Toyota Corolla Altis preview at Beijing 2006
Toyota reveals Valvematic technology
New flagship 1.8 litre Dual VVT-i powerplant from Toyota
An upmarket meter face with multi-information displays
Basic meter face
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments reveal mixed reactions to the new 2008 Toyota Corolla Altis, with many discussing its design, performance, and value. Some readers find the car boring and unattractive, criticizing its monotonous look and lack of innovation, while others appreciate its reliability and comfort. Several comments compare it unfavorably to competitors like Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and Mitsubishi Lancer, highlighting concerns over its styling, handling, and perceived lack of excitement. Many anticipate that despite the criticisms, Toyota's strong brand reputation will ensure good sales in Malaysia. There is also interest in the engine options, with some wishing for more powerful variants. Overall, sentiments are a mix of skepticism about the design and optimism about its proven dependability and market success.