Fifty years ago, Toyota first introduced the Corolla and, to mark the occasion, it has rolled out this special edition in its home market, with retro trim derived by its progenitor from 1966.
The celebratory edition is based on the G Hybrid version of the Corolla Axio, a very different model to the one sold in the US (which also got its own special edition). It’s offered in either pearl white or black mica, with a red and black interior with synthetic leather.
The specific shade of red was electronically measured by the automaker’s design division to faithfully reproduce the exact shade that featured on the original half a century ago. It also features retro badges referencing the garland of flowers – “corolla” in Latin – from which the model’s name was taken.
The special throwback model will be showcased alongside the original at the upcoming classic car show at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba City. Buyers will be able to order one through the Toyota Corolla dealer network (separate from the Toyopet and Netz chains) for 2,400,000 yen, or roughly $23,000.