As well as preparing the new generation of the Auris hatchback and station wagon models for several markets around the world including Japan and Europe, Toyota is also working on a successor for its most famous nameplate, the Corolla sedan that arrives next year.

In North America, the current, tenth generation of the Corolla series that has been in production since 2006 is more of a redesign of the previous model introduced in the continent in 2002 for the 2003MY.

Despite its lackluster looks, especially when compared to the newer competition, the current Corolla was the fifth best-selling car in the States in 2011 with 232,159 units while this year sales are up by 11 percent through June compared to the first half of 2011.

But far from resting on its laurels, Toyota wants to spice up the next iteration of the Corolla sedan with company officials claiming that it will mark a radical departure from the current model.

“Some [within Toyota] have said it is an even more dramatic change than the Avalon’s recent metamorphosis“, Bill Fay, general manager for the Toyota and Scion brands in the U.S. told WardsAuto during a recent presentation of the all-electric RAV4.

For the new Avalon sedan, which was introduced at the New York Auto Show in April and will go on sale later this year, Toyota came up with a far more interesting design than the outgoing model with a swoopy, fastback body that resembles in part four-door coupes.

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