Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Toyota

After releasing official pictures and a press release about an hour earlier, Toyota chose an aircraft hanger at the Santa Monica airport as the venue for the global introduction of its highly anticipated 2014 Corolla. Following an extended aerial acrobat show, which included performers running along the walls, swimmers romping in a massive overhead clear plastic pool and angry dancers destroying their cardboard stage in a glittery fit... the all-new C-segment star of the show was lowered on cables from the ceiling. (After the strobe lights and pounding sound that preceded it, the final vehicle reveal was almost anticlimactic.)

Face-to-face with the eleventh-generation sedan, we liked what we saw. Compared to last year's Corolla, the new model appears smaller in person - yet that is mostly an optical illusion. By the tape, it is four inches longer and slightly wider than its predecessor, but a bit shorter. The wheelbase has been stretched nearly four inches, yet the front and rear overhangs only give or take about an inch in the conversion. With the exception of the enormous wheel/fender gap (the new Corolla seems to ride too high), its overall proportions are very pleasing.

The fresh styling is modern and stylish, with sculpted lines that add character to a formerly bland sedan

The fresh styling is modern and stylish, with sculpted lines that add character to a formerly bland sedan (inexpensive does not have to mean boring). Thankfully, the new car lacks any tacked-on lower cladding to detract from its shape, and the sleek new LED headlights have allowed the designers to abandon the bulbous look of its predecessor's front illumination. The rear bumper appears to have been shaped in the wind tunnel, with much sharper corners than the outgoing sedan and the tail lamps are now cleanly integrated into the quarter panels and trunk lid.

Inside the cabin, the Corolla has definitely matured and gained a premium feel - especially in the higher trim levels. We welcome the increased seat travel, Lexus styling cues and new technology, but we'd still like to see more compartment space in the center console area for phones and other electronic devices, and fewer buttons.

After our brief introduction, we can't help but feel that the all-new 2014 Toyota Corolla is a worthy successor - albeit visually. Yet based on its published mechanical specifications (we've reprinted the full press release below), we can't wait to get behind the wheel to determine if it drives as well as it appears.

Continue reading First live photos and impressions of Toyota's 2014 Corolla

First live photos and impressions of Toyota's 2014 Corolla originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 04:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hmmm...the FT-86 must have done some good for Toyota's designers. That's a sharp looking small car, especially considering it's a Corolla, which have always been boring.

nice lookin kia

There is a hint of Kia Forte Koup there...that's not a bad thing. If Toyota is daring to actually be bold and sporty, that's a good thing for future cars in the segment.

This screams "we ripped off KIA"

Sweet Scion with KIA wheels...

Sent from my mind using telekinesis.