Milestones and Memories: Toyota Marks Corolla’s 50th Anniversary
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World’s all-time best-selling car partners with actresses Gina
Rodriguez and Hannah Simone to share Corolla memories -
Toyota unveils limited 50th Anniversary Special Edition
Corolla with unique features - Refreshed 2017 Corolla gets new safety and technology features
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Actress Gina Rodriguez drove her Corolla cross-country to Hollywood to
follow her dreams. Actress Hannah Simone learned to drive inside her
dad’s pristinely kept Corolla. With more than 43 million vehicles
sold over the last 50 years, the Toyota Corolla has been a part of more
people’s lives than any car ever manufactured. To celebrate the
Corolla’s status as the world’s all-time best-selling car and the
important role it has played for millions of drivers, Toyota today
launched the Corolla 50th Anniversary campaign – a year-long
effort showcasing how the Corolla has powered more memories, milestones
and moments than any car in the world.
Always focused on providing quality and style in one economical package,
the first Corolla went on sale in Japan in November 1966, and came to
the U.S. in 1968. The car proved to be an instant success, helping
transform Toyota’s global reach and more than doubling its total annual
production from 480,000 to 1.1 million vehicles from 1965 to 1968. Just
in time for the Corolla’s 50th anniversary celebration, the 2017 Toyota
Corolla receives a refreshed look and new features, including available
Toyota Safety Sense-P technology and a standard back-up camera on all
models. The 2017 Corolla XSE and 50th Anniversary Special
Edition are on display at the New York International Auto Show.
Exceptional and Everyday Stories
Corolla may be the world’s best-selling car of all-time, but for
Rodriguez and Simone it represents fun memories and personal adventures.
Each shared their humorous stories through a partnership with BuzzFeed,
encouraging other Corolla drivers to do the same with the hashtag
#Corolla50. The actresses’ videos and other Corolla 50th
anniversary content will be featured at corolla50.toyota.com,
a website dedicated to celebrating the Corolla’s 50-year heritage,
driver stories and user-generated content tagged #Corolla50. The site
also features a sweepstakes with the opportunity to win a 2017 Corolla.
See corolla50.toyota.com
for rules and information.
“I’ll always have a special place in my heart for my Corolla that helped
me move from New York to Los Angeles,” Rodriguez said. “My Corolla meant
so much to me because it held all the memories of my struggle and taught
me strength early on. Happy 50th Corolla, and thanks for
always having my back.”
Another influential voice who also began his career with a Corolla was
none other than Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corporation. A
used 4-door Corolla GT captured his heart in the 1980s when he was fresh
out of college.
“My used 4th generation Corolla 1600 GT was like a best friend to me. I
shared my youth with it! That car showed me the joy of driving. It
represented freedom, fun and first forays in the business world,” Toyoda
said. “Not only did my Corolla influence me and my own path, but this
vehicle—supported by fans and customers—helped transform Toyota as a
company around the world.”
The Corolla’s influence on Toyota is a result of its global reach and
scale. From the start in 1966, Toyota planned to build 30,000 Corollas a
month when at the time monthly production was only 50,000 vehicles
total. But Corolla was an instant hit. Success in the U.S. helped global
sales reach 1 million just four years after launch, and by 1970, Corolla
was already the second best-selling import in the country.
Today, Toyota sells approximately 1.5 million Corollas globally a year.
Workers around the world assemble Corollas at 16 plants worldwide,
including at Toyota’s plants in Blue Springs, Miss. (since October
2011), and in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada (since November 1988).
Contributing to its success, the Corolla has continued to evolve over
five decades. Its first version ushered in new technologies like the
MacPherson strut suspension, a compact engine with a five-bearing
crankshaft, two-speed wipers and back-up lights. Drivers over the years
fell in love with a variety of models from family-friendly sedans, the
three-door “liftback” E50 and sports coupé E51, the fun-to-drive AE86
and all-new, sportier 11th generation Corolla. Fans can see
representations from all 11 generations and create Corolla stories to
share at corolla50.toyota.com.
New Look for Today’s Drivers
The 2017 Corolla gets exciting updates to match the styles and on-the-go
needs of today’s drivers. All Corolla vehicle grades have available
Toyota Safety Sense-P, which is a host of safety features including:
- Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection function
- Dynamic radar cruise control
- Lane departure alert with steering assist function
- Automatic high beams
Drivers can feel confident the 2017 Corolla is a smart choice for their
lifestyles. Standard features now include a back-up camera, bi-LED
headlamps on L, LE and LE Eco grades, complex-LED standard on SE, XSE
and XLE grades and a redesigned, upgraded interior, including audio
enhancements focused on comfort and convenience. A more aggressive front
grille and two new exterior colors give Corolla a modern look to match
the spirited driving experience.
The newest Corolla will remain a standout in its segment with roomy rear
seats, standard Bluetooth, and Entune Audio, available Entune Audio Plus
with Connected Navigation (Scout® GPS Link App) or available Entune
Premium Audio with Integrated Navigation and App Suite. Both the Entune
Audio Plus and Entune Premium Audio systems move from a 6.1-inch screen
to a 7-inch screen for 2017. Even after 50 years, the newest Corolla
delivers against drivers’ needs wherever and whatever they are.
50th
Anniversary Special Edition
Based on the sporty 2017 Corolla SE, the 50th Anniversary
Special Edition package reflects Corolla’s continuous commitment to
driver happiness. The custom package of features brings in exclusive
details to celebrate the love this car earns around the world. Just
8,000 will be sold in the U.S.
The model includes:
- 17” Alloy Wheels with Dark Gray Inserts and Machine Finish
- 7-inch High-Resolution Touch-Screen
- Entune Audio Plus with Connected Navigation (Scout® GPS Link App)
- Color 4.2-inch TFT Multi-Information Display
- Smart Key system with push button start
- Complex-LED Headlamps
- Black mixed media seats with Black Cherry contrast stitching
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Black interior with Black Cherry contrast stitching on steering wheel,
shift boot and center armrest - Black cherry accented dash panel and door trim
- 50th Anniversary Edition floor mats
- 50th Anniversary Edition exterior badge
- Available Moonroof
Available in three exterior colors – exclusive color Black Cherry,
Classic Silver, Blizzard Pearl – the special edition will be available
beginning in Fall 2016.
Continuing Corolla Celebration
The New York International Auto Show gave Corolla a kickoff to a year
that will continue to celebrate the love of its drivers. In June, a
restored 1970 Corolla will crisscross the country from San Rafael,
California to Moline, Illinois in the Great
Race. And all year, Toyota will continue to hold up drivers’ stories
as the true measure of Corolla’s success.
For more information about Corolla history, visit www.toyota-global.com/showroom/vehicle_heritage/corolla/.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos and video to accompany this story are
available and can be retrieved in digital form by media without charge
at http://www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Contacts
Toyota Division Communications
Craig Taguchi, 310-468-3282
craig.taguchi@toyota.com
or
Golin
for Toyota
Rebecca Lee, 213-335-5552
rlee@golin.com
or
Media
website: http://www.toyotanewsroom.com
Public
website: http://www.toyota.com
