JDM-spec Toyota Corolla Sport Launched In Hybrid and Turbo Guises

Toyota is finally launching the new Corolla Sport in its home market in Japan, with the new hatchback offered with hybrid and turbo petrol powertrains.

The new Toyota Corolla Sport will be among the first models to feature the company’s data communication module as standard on all models. This enables connected functions such as remote driving guidance, vehicle diagnosis, maintenance at optimal timing based on the vehicle’s mileage and more.

Customers in Japan will be offered the choice between a hybrid powertrain and a 1.2-liter turbo petrol engine. The former is basically the Prius powertrain, utilizing a 97hp 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired to a 71hp electric motor for a combined 120hp.

The turbocharged 1.2-liter petrol unit produces 114hp (116PS) and 136lb-ft (185Nm) of torque. A CVT gearbox that features a manual 10-speed mode will be the only option, up until August when Toyota will add a manual gearbox as well. The petrol-powered Corolla Sport features all-wheel drive in the more expensive trim levels.

“The new Corolla Sport continues the Corolla ‘fun to drive’ DNA and integrates connected functions toward the future of mobility”, said Yoshiki Konishi, the model’s chief engineer. “I want people to experience both the history and the future woven by the Corolla when they drive it.”

JDM-spec Corolla Sport models feature a new emblem that uses the letter “C” as its motif. Customers will get to choose between eight exterior colors, including the new Oxide Bronze Metallic.

The cabin features newly developed bucket seats that offer enhanced lateral support and an sporty design, revealing the new Corolla Sport’s fun-to-drive intentions. A centrally located seven-inch infotainment system is present, just as the NA and Euro-spec models.

Sales of the new Toyota Corolla Sport in Japan will begin in early July, with prices starting from 2,419,200 yen (around $22k in current exchange rates) for both the Hybrid and 1.2 Turbo models.