2011 Toyota Corolla Facelift: First Official Photos, will Debut at LA Show

The Los Angeles Auto Show will be opening its doors to the members of the press tomorrow, but Toyota can't wait to share its facelifted 2011 Corolla sedan. The Japanese firm's bread and butter model has received a mild makeover along with some equipment upgrades. It will go on sale in the States in December.

The most obvious visual changes concern the front end which gains new bumper, grille and headlamp designs. At the back, there are newly styled tail lamps as well as a revised turn lid and rear license garnish. Other changes include the slightly larger side-view mirrors, an engine undercover that promises to improve air management under the car and new wheel designs.

The S model seen in these photos features a standard body kit that adds a front spoiler, rocker moldings, and upper and lower rear spoilers.

The interior upgrades are even more subtle being limited to new seat colors and patterns, different trim on the instrument panel and doors, plus a newly designed three-spoke sports steering wheel on the Corolla S.

There are no changes under the hood with the 2011 Corolla being offered with a standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 132 hp at 6,000 rpm and 128 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. According to the Japanese maker, the 1.8-liter engine has an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 28 mpg city and 35 mpg highway with the five-speed manual transmission, and 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway with the four-speed automatic transmission.

Toyota made no mention of the XRS, which for the 2010MY, comes with a 158HP 2.4-liter unit, so we'll have to wait and see if it has been crossed out of the range or if it will return for the 2011MY.

For now, we know that the 2011 Corolla will be available in three grades, the base-model Corolla, LE, and S, all powered by the 1.8L engine.

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Toyota issues voluntary recall for 1.1 million Corolla/Matrix models, beats Feds to it

It's official: that little snafu Toyota had a few days ago with the stalling Corollas has evolved from an Engineering Analysis to a full-blown (voluntary) recall. The world's largest automaker will recall around 1.13 million vehicles, specifically the 2005-08 Corolla and Matrix (and Vibe?) for "improperly manufactured" engine control modules. Toyota will replace the modules for free on affected cars, while providing people who have already had to replace theirs with the opportunity to file a claim for reimbursement.

Toyota says this recall specifically affects cars that have the 1ZZ-FE (1.8-liter) engine and front wheel drive. The issue stems from cracks that could form on the solder points or varistors (an "electronic component used to protect circuits against excessive voltage") on the ECM.

Signs to look out for are a premature engine warning light (so embarassing), jerky shifts, and the engine failing to start. Another red flag would be the car stalling while driving, although Toyota implies that this is highly unlikely. Who's going to be the first person to fake a stalling debacle for media attention?

Toyota's North American chief quality officer Steve St. Angelo says, "This recall is an example of our commitment to standing by our products and being responsive to our customers. Our goal is to help ensure that Toyota drivers are completely confident in the safety and reliability of their vehicles."

According to the Japanese automaker, there are three unconfirmed accidents alleged to be related to this condition, one of which reported a minor injury.

Thoughts?

By Phil Alex

Just when you thought it was Safe to get back in the Toyota: Stalling Issues Could Prompt Recall of 1.2 Million Cars

Toyota isn't out of hot water just yet, although many people have conveniently forgotten their accelerator issue after BP went all "Look at me! I'm dangerous, too!" For those who don't recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been dealing with another problem regarding some ToMoCo products: a stalling issue with up to 1.2 million 2005-2007 Corollas and Matrixes (Matrices?). That means possibly beating dead-horse Pontiac some more, since the Vibe was a brand-engineered Matrix.

As for the update: our Toyota Warning level has been elevated from "Preliminary Evaluation" to "Engineering Analysis" (one step below Recall) due to the cars still stalling at any speed and not being able to restart. To your battle stations!

Word from the safety agency is that over 160 complaints have come in about a situation where "the engine can stall without warning at any speed and not restart" due to a faulty ECU. Although Toyota doesn't seem to think it's a problem, I'd venture to say engine cut-off on a highway or intersection might be a major problem.

Toyota says the issue stems from either cracks in solder joints on, or defective coating of, the ECU circuit board. According to some commenters, the repair could cost owners up to $1,000. And the hits keep coming...

By Phil Alex

Source: NY Times