This press pack accompanied the UK launch of the second generation Corolla Verso in 2004. Changes to the model during its lifetime can be tracked using the Timeline feature on the Corolla Verso archive page. More information about the Corolla Verso range can be obtained from the Toyota press office.
TOYOTA COROLLA VERSO
Key points
- Dynamic, stylish and versatile all-new Corolla Verso
- Unmatched flexibility and ease of use with Toyota Easy Flat-7TM, the world’s first full flat-folding system for all five rear seats
- Corolla Verso joins Avensis, Yaris and Corolla as Toyota’s fourth European core model
- Designed in Europe and built exclusively in Europe
- On sale in the UK from 1 May 2004
- On The Road prices from £14,495 (1.6 T2)
- 2004 UK sales target of around 6,000 units; 2005 anticipated sales between 8,000 and 10,000 units
- Three trim levels – T2 ,T3 and T Spirit
- Three engine options, 1.6-litre (available in T2 grade only) and 1.8 VVT-i petrol and 2.0
D-4D common rail diesel - Best-in-class insurance ratings – 5E for diesels and 6E for petrol models (target)
- Exterior styling created at Toyota’s European design studio, ED²
- New platform, suspension and steering provide a new level of driving dynamics
- New Multi-mode Manual Transmission provides automatic and sequential operation in one system
- First MPV with nine standard airbags, part of a class-leading passive safety package
- First car in its segment to use a driver’s knee airbag
- All models equipped with ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
- Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control and Brake Assist standard on T3 and T Spirit grades
- Available with the segment’s most sophisticated DVD-based navigation system
- New Cornering Assist Monitor for increased safety available as part of optional DVD full map navigation system on T Spirit
- Park Assist system with rear-mounted camera helps with reversing into parking spaces – part of optional DVD full map navigation system on T Spirit
- New dynamic design breaks with the conventional, “boxy” MPV style
- Segment’s lowest drag (Cd 0.30) and front lift (CL.f 0.05) coefficients
- First compact MPV to adopt rebound springs
- First segment application of the acoustic windscreen
- 2.0 D-4D diesel engine produces the lowest particulate emissions in the segment
The new-generation Toyota Corolla Verso will challenge established perceptions of the compact MPV. Although it is a fully-fledged, seven-seat family car, the all-new Corolla Verso offers a level of driving dynamics and superior quality far above that which the segment has hitherto offered.
The car benefits from wide application of new technologies, advanced active and passive safety systems and a neat and attractive design that delivers new standards of versatility, modularity and practicality. These elements combine in a vehicle that from the start will set new benchmarks in the compact MPV market.
Central to its success will be the revolutionary Toyota Easy Flat-7TM, by which all five rear seats can be folded down to create a perfectly flat load floor. No seats have to be removed and head restraints can remain in place. A simple, single motion is all that’s required to fold each seat down onto the vehicle floor. No other C-segment MPV has such built-in ease of use and flexibility.
The Toyota Corolla Verso will be a key player in a competitive segment, and an attractive prospect for a new type of buyer: young couples or parents with active lifestyles, who are looking for something more special than just another family car. The essence of the new Corolla Verso’s appeal to these people is its dynamic versatility.
The new car will be available in the UK in three grades – T2, T3 and T Spirit – that will provide generous levels of safety, comfort and convenience features. This year Toyota expects to sell 52,000 units of the new model in Europe, in addition to 13,000 of the current model. In the UK the target for the new car is approx 6,000 units for the remainder of 2004 with 8,000 to 10,000 sales anticipated for 2005. On The Road prices start from £14,495 for the 1.6 T2 model. The range will offer 10 versions including a 1.8 VVT-i model with the optional Multi-mode Manual Transmission (MMT).
BODY AND CHASSIS
The all-new Corolla Verso’s exterior design was created at Toyota’s European design studio, ED2. The style incorporates SUV-derived elements in the lower body and captures design cues from several other Toyota models to give the car an unmistakable Toyota identity.
The Corolla Verso’s complete redesign means it’s now taller and wider than its predecessor but the new-look’s smooth lines still achieve a best-in-segment Cd of 0.30. The aerodynamic shape has helped achieve a reduction in wind noise, especially around the windscreen wipers and underneath the car, and aids driving stability. New sound deadening materials and an acoustic-glass windscreen also contribute to the quiet ride.
The light and precise steering has been tuned for greater driving enjoyment. The position of the steering wheel has been changed to suit a more active driving style than in the former Corolla Verso and adjustment for rake and reach is now available.
Built on a totally new platform, the Corolla Verso produces an exciting and exhilarating drive in a smart and flexible package. Improved suspension gives the car good posture and stability with a dynamic feel through the steering, whether there is one person on board or seven.
And thanks to parts that are less expensive and easier to replace, the Corolla Verso also offers class-leading repair costs and the best insurance ratings in its sector.
POWERTRAINS
The Corolla Verso is available in the UK with a choice of three engines: an entry-level 109bhp 1.6-litre VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent)petrol unit, the responsive 127bhp 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol and 114bhp 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine, which delivers excellent torque, robustness and fuel economy. The 1.6 and 1.8-litre engines both comply with EURO IV regulations and the 2.0 D-4D diesel emits, on average, 47 per cent less particulate matter than its segment rivals.
All three engines are offered as standard with five-speed manual transmission, but the 1.8-litre VVT-i is also available with a new five-speed Multi-mode Manual Transmission (MMT) that provides a combination of automatic and sequential shifting. Fuel consumption is improved when the car is driven in automatic mode, compared to the standard manual transmission. In addition, the MMT is much lighter and more compact than a conventional automatic.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Toyota is confident the new Corolla Verso will be a top player in its group in terms of safety performance. The car’s construction features Toyota’s Minimal Intrusion Cabin System (MICS), the same structure that helped the Toyota Avensis establish class-leading results in Euro NCAP crash testing. It also boasts a number of segment-firsts, such as the innovative Cornering Assist Monitor, which helps the driver “see” around blind corners; nine airbags fitted as standard (including the segment’s first knee airbag); and a two-stage seatbelt warning system which combines a dashboard warning light and buzzer.
Top stopping performance comes courtesy of a braking system taken from the Toyota Avensis, in other words, better brakes from an upper-segment car. Four discs bring the car
to rest safely with the help of ABS and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD). In addition, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC) with Brake Assist (BA) are standard on T3 and T Spirit models.
The new Corolla Verso is well-protected from thieves thanks to an improved security package. Among the measures adopted in the new car are an electric steering lock, an immobiliser fitted in an inaccessible position and two VIN plates on the bodyshell. A new tonneau cover hides the boot contents and can be neatly stored under the floor when not in use.
These measures make a considerable contribution to the new Corolla Verso’s best-in-class insurance ratings in the UK and Germany. The British classifications from ABI Thatcham are targeted at 5E for all diesel versions and 6E for the petrol models.
INTERIOR
Equal attention has been paid to creating an interior that meets and exceeds the high customer demands in the compact MPV sector. The car’s driving rewards are increased through thoughtful and attractive interior design, a comfortable and repositioned steering wheel and a more dynamic driving position.
Thanks to the Toyota Easy Flat-7TM system, the new Corolla Verso is the only MPV in the world in which all five rear seats can be folded flat into the vehicle floor. What’s more, the folding system is the simplest to operate of all MPVs on the market: it takes just a single operation to fold down each rear seat.
The Corolla Verso’s interior is completely new and its clever design produces outstanding passenger space and storage. The focal point of the cabin is the prominent centre console. The use of subtle colours and stylish metallic inserts helps create a light and pleasant ambience, while plush new fabrics and a flush surface finish add to the coherency of the design.
In designing the vehicle’s storage spaces, Toyota engineers thought about not just how much luggage or cargo would be carried, but also what kind of things. The result is an exceptional array of storage compartments suitable for objects of many different shapes and sizes.
The new Toyota Corolla Verso is available with the most advanced navigation equipment available in its segment. The highly accurate DVD-based system has the facility to monitor
traffic information in its route search programme and includes country guides and border displays, motorway entry/exit searches and a compass screen. There is also a high quality Panasonic audio system comprising built-in radio, CD player, amplifier and ancillary controls on the steering wheel.
The Toyota In-Car Entertainment system is standard on the T Spirit grade, comprising a DVD player connected to five-inch LCD screens installed in the back of the front seat headrests. The system can also be connected to game consoles and can play several disc formats, including VCDs, audio CDs and even MP3 files.
MANUFACTURING
The new Toyota Corolla Verso will be produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey (TMMT), alongside Corolla saloon and estate models. The addition of the new Verso to the production line led to an increase in annual capacity from 100,000 to 150,000 units.
The 824,000m3 site is located in Adapazari and was established in 1990. It represents an investment of €700 million (more than £467 million) and will create 3,000 jobs in the region by August 2004.
CONCEPT AND MARKET INFORMATION
RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE NEW COMPACT MPV CUSTOMERS
The new Corolla Verso’s target is to expand Toyota’s share of the C-segment MPV market and to make a further contribution to Toyota’s outstanding sales success in Europe. The car’s development has kept a focus on the new type of customers it intends to attract: adults who live their lives to the full and are looking for something a bit more special than just another family vehicle. It has been given a “must-have” appeal with its design and endowed with Toyota’s superior quality throughout, boosting the pride of ownership factor.
The new Corolla Verso will be available in the UK from 1 May and sales of about 6,000 units are expected for the remainder of 2004. In 2005, 8,000 to 10,000 sales are anticipated. Across Europe, Toyota expects to sell 52,000 units of the new model this year, in addition to 13,000 of the current version.
COMPREHENSIVE EQUIPMENT LIST
The new Toyota Corolla Verso will be available in three grades, T2, T3 and T Spirit. All three provide equipment levels that meet the highest demands of C-segment MPV sector customers.
When defining the equipment choice, the major concern was safety. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC) and Brake Assist (BA) are standard on T3 and T Spirit models. ABS and Electronic Brake-force Distribution are standard across the range and the same goes for the nine airbags (including the first-in-class knee airbag) and the two-stage seatbelt warning system.
To answer the needs of modern families who demand more sophistication and innovation, Toyota is offering as an option (T Spirit models only) the segment’s most advanced DVD-based satellite navigation system. This package also includes monitors which provide the
driver with clear images from behind the vehicle and from either side at blind junctions. The groundbreaking Cornering Assist Monitor uses a miniature camera installed in the front grille to check for oncoming vehicles, pedestrians or other hazards on blind corners. The Park Assist system operates by means of a rear-mounted camera that feeds a real-time image to the satellite navigation display screen. This can be overlaid with guidelines to help the driver reverse into parking spaces safely and with ease. The T Spirit grade has an In-Car Entertainment system with DVD player and headrest mounted screens.
The three equipment levels feature the following items as standard equipment:
T2 / T3 (in addition to T2) / T Spirit (in addition to T3)Seven seats with Toyota Easy Flat-7TM system / Five-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels with locking nuts / Eight-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels with locking nuts
Colour keyed front and rear bumpers and door handles / Electrically adjustable, heated and retractable colour keyed door mirrors / In car entertainment system with DVD player and headrest-mounted screens
Electric front windows with anti-trap system / Front and rear electric windows / Roof rails
Six-speaker audio system with CD player / Cruise control / Chrome trim detailing
Push Button Start System / Leather steering wheel and gear knob trim
Roof-mounted antenna / Unique seat and door trim
Auxiliary audio controls on steering wheel / Electrochromic rear view mirror
Leather-trimmed gear knob (manual transmission) / Automatic air conditioning
Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment / Front fog lamps with auto-cancel function
Manual air conditioning / Intermittent wipers with rain sensor
Optitron instrument display / Vehicle Stability Control with Traction Control and Brake Assist
Chrome interior door handles / Arm rest for driver and front passenger
Driver and passenger front, side and Curtain Shield airbags
Driver knee airbag
ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
Remote central double locking
ISO-FIX child seat fixings
Rear fog lamps with auto cancel function
UK RANGE AND PRICING
The new Corolla Verso offers UK customers a great breadth of choice with 10 versions of the car available, priced from £14,495 on the road.
The entry level model is the 1.6 T2, the only version to be offered in the UK with the 109bhp 1.6-litre VVT-i engine. The 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol and 2.0-litre D-4D diesel models are available in T2, T3 and T Spirit grades, the 1.8 cars additionally offered with the option of Toyota’s new Multi-mode Manual Transmission.
The price “walk” for the new Corolla Verso works to a logical structure. The move from 1.6 to 1.8-litre power adds £500 to the price, with the move from 1.8-litre petrol to 2.0-litre diesel adding £1,000. The Multi-Mode Manual Transmission on the 1.8-litre adds £500. The move from T2 to T3 grade carries a £2,000 premium, while that from T3 to T Spirit adds a further £1,800. Full launch price details are given in the table below.
MODEL / ON THE ROAD PRICE1.6 VVT-i T2 / £14,495
1.8 VVT-i T2 / £14,995
1.8 VVT-i T2 with MMT / £15,495
2.0 D-4D T2 / £15,995
1.8 T3 / £16,995
1.8 T3 with MMT / £17,495
2.0 D-4D T3 / £17,995
1.8 T Spirit / £18,795
1.8 T Spirit with MMT / £19,295
2.0 D-4D T Spirit / £19,795
BODY AND CHASSIS
DRIVING PLEASURE TO MATCH THE LOOKS
The new Toyota Corolla Verso is more than just another new MPV. Toyota engineers broke with tradition and adopted “out-of-the-box” thinking to come up with the new solutions that make the Corolla Verso a unique and special product.
By combining seven-seat versatility with dynamic looks, the Corolla Verso breathes new life into its segment and bridges the gap between hatchback design and the typical compact MPV. Toyota’s design concept embraced the themes of Sports, Quality and Modernity at all times, which means the finished car not only delivers in terms of versatility and resourcefulness, but also stands out from the crowd.
INDIVIDUAL, DYNAMIC STYLE
The car shows that Toyota’s designers have followed their brief, which was to create a vehicle that will appeal to people who want and need space and flexibility through ingenious design, but don’t want to sacrifice looks or style.