PETALING JAYA: It's official. UMW Toyota Motor will be launching the locally assembled Corolla Cross Hybrid soon.
Estimated price is RM137,000, and pre-bookings are opened now.
The arrival of the CKD hybrid has long been expected and comes as no surprise.
"Assembling locally means more attractive and affordable pricing," said UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K.
Two other non-hybrid variants featuring a 1.8-litre engine continue to be offered.
The Corolla Cross 1.8V and Corolla Cross 1.8G were launched in March, initially as fully imported units from Toyota's plant in Thailand.
They will now be locally assembled in Bukit Raja, Selangor, and consequently come with lower price tags. The Corolla Cross 1.8V and Corolla Cross 1.8G are estimated to be priced at RM129,000 and RM123,000 respectively.
The model will be offered in a choice of colours namely Celestite Grey Metallic (exclusive to the hybrid), Platinum White Pearl, Red Mica Metallic, Nebula Blue Metallic and Silver Metallic.
Fourth-gen hybrid
The hybrid electric powertrain of the Corolla Cross Hybrid employs the fourth generation of Toyota’s Hybrid Electric System.
This consists of a 1.8-litre petrol engine which works together with an electric motor, with the computer intelligently using power from the engine and motor according to driving conditions.
For stronger acceleration, more power may be drawn from the petrol engine, while the electric motor is used more when moving off from standstill. In certain conditions, it is even possible to drive on just electric power alone, with almost noiseless movement and zero emissions.
The power output of the petrol engine is 97hp at 5,200 rpm with 142Nm of torque at 3,600rpm. The electric motor contributes 71hp and 163Nm of torque which is available from almost idling speed.
Power delivery is via an E-CVT with 4 drive modes - Sport, Eco, Normal and EV.
The driver can select any mode while on the move to suit driving preferences or to maximise fuel-saving.
ICE-ed variants
To recap on the powertrain for the Corolla Cross 1.8V and 1.8G, they are equipped with an internal combustion engine (ICE) that is the same as the one in the variants launched in March.
The 1.8-litre DOHC 16-valve petrol engine with Dual VVT-i produces 137hp at 6,400 rpm with 172Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. It is mated to a 7-speed continuously variable transmission, that also offers manual selection of gears.
Compared to the imported version, the locally assembled versions are enhanced with new features.
Like the Corolla Cross 1.8V, the 1.8G also has bi-LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights that employ a light curtain design. A roof rail is now included as standard to add to the sporty and adventurous image.
For recharging portable devices, there are now two Type-C USB points at the rear and customers can also include the optional wireless charger pad.
Toyota Safety Sense for two variants
The Corolla Cross 1.8V and 1.8 Hybrid are equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0 to assist the driver to avoid an accident or minimise the effects of a collision.
The safety systems in TSS 2.0 consist of a Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Automatic High Beam.
As with other Toyota passenger car models, the Corolla Cross comes with a factory warranty of 5 years, with unlimited mileage.
The hybrid battery pack has a separate warranty of 8 years, which Toyota said is superior to any other battery warranty in the market.
Unlike other brands, Toyota offers enhanced coverage which is not just for the battery pack but also for the Inverter and Power Management Control ECU. Customers also have the option of extending full coverage for a further 2 years.
Sales on the mend
In other related developments, the total number of Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in October was 8,500 units, an increase of 6% over the September sales volume. Cumulative sales up till the end of October were 54,618 units, 25% more than for the same period of 10 months in 2020.
