To start with, the Toyota Corolla is like that friend you can always go to the bar with: not the coolest, not the noisiest, but it’s there when you need it. Imagine going to a party and the person next to you in a mid-level suit is your Corolla. No flash, no ponce, but you can always count on it.
History and development of the Corolla: how it all began
The Corolla was lucky enough to be born in 1966, when it looked cute as a typical Japanese small car. At the time, everyone thought it would be just another boring sedan, but as is often the case, it turned out to be a dark horse. And that’s where it gets interesting:
Generation I (1966-1970)
The Corolla was born with a small 1.1-liter engine that produced as much as 60 horsepower. That’s about as much power as a good hair dryer, but for its time and the weight of the car – it was quite something. It was so simple that you could even put a Game Boy battery in place of the battery and it would run (well, almost). Nevertheless, the car was cheap, reliable and… terribly popular.
Generation II (1970-1974)
Against the backdrop of hippie revolutions and disco, the Corolla grew up and became a little larger and more powerful. It was as if it had taken a “jock” course and put some more “horses” under the hood – 1.2-liter engine and about 73 hp. Again, not a supercar, but it didn’t claim to be. It just did its job – it drove on the streets and didn’t break down.
Generation III and IV (1974-1983)
These guys turned on the speed and started to gather fans among those who didn’t need sports cars. The third generation was the first real hit. In 1979, the Corolla became front-wheel drive – it’s like moving into a centrally heated apartment – basically nothing supernatural, but in contrast to the past – a revolution!
AE86 generation (1983-1987)
This is where the full hype started! The AE86 Sprinter Trueno is what broke the internet into memes and drift fans. This car is so iconic that it has itself become a legend in anime and JDM culture. If you’ve heard of the game or anime Initial D, you know what we’re talking about. Back in the day, it was this rear-wheel drive coupe that made all teenagers dream of drifting. It was the Toyota for those who wanted to stand out.
Generation X-XII (2006-present)
These generations – are like guys who, after a college party, went to the office and stopped wearing sneakers and now wear suits, but still remember how cool university was. Now the Corolla has become modern, with hybrid versions and all those technological gizmos like driver assistance systems. All in all, it’s still the same old reliable friend you can’t leave behind.
Interesting facts about the Corolla
- Queen of Sales: The Toyota Corolla has sold more than 50 million units since its inception! That’s more than any other car in the world. It’s like if all your friends from different countries suddenly bought the same t-shirt because it’s just comfortable and cheap. Everywhere you go, you’ll find your Corolla.
- The benchmark for reliability: It’s a car that’s hard to kill. All services and mechanics know: if you have a Corolla, it’s like starting a pet cactus – you don’t have to do almost anything, it just lives its life. It is known for being able to drive 300,000 kilometers without blinking, while consuming fuel economically.
- The Corolla is like email spam, only nice: You never really want it, but once you have it, you realize it’s the best solution. Well, maybe not spam, but like a stable Wi-Fi connection – it seems like no big deal, but life would be harder without it.
Owners’ impressions
The average Toyota Corolla owner says this, “Well, you know, I wanted a Tesla, but I ended up with a Corolla, and I’m glad because it always goes.” It’s a car without any unnecessary surprises, no whimsy, like the simplest cheese sandwich. Corolla is bought by those who don’t want to think about cars, they want it to just work. It will not participate in races, but you will never get to the service with a question: “Why it does not start?”. Its owners are those who value peace of mind, stability and… who want to save a bit of money on fuel.
Also, owners often joke: if you have a Corolla, you can become invisible to cops and fines. No one notices this car in traffic – it blends in so seamlessly with the road.
The bottom line
So, the Toyota Corolla isn’t – a sports car, it’s not premium, but it – is confidence for every day.
That’s interesting!