The Levin.
BEIJING: The new Toyota Corolla and Levin will make a world premiere at the Nov 16-25 Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition (Auto Guangzhou 2018).
The 12th-generation Corolla design is expected to borrow heavily from the hatchback version that was shown at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.
The motivation for the car will probably come from the familiar 1.8 litre and 2.0 litre Dual VVT-i engines as well as the newer 2.0-litre Dynamic Force powerplant. A hybrid Corolla will be introduced and for the first time, be sold outside China as well.
Although the Levin nameplate has been dropped in Japan for some time, it lives on in China where it is available as a plug-in hybrid as well. The model is based on the Corolla/Altis and is basically a re-styled Corolla. The Corolla spin-off has long been recognised as a lightweight, compact sports coupé.
With the rash of changes to the upcoming Corolla, we can expect the Levin to be updated for the times. The plug-in versions of the Corolla and Levin were unveiled in Beijing in April. They have a electric range of 50km. Toyota has said it would start producing them in China, marking Toyota's first overseas production of PHEVs.
Come Nov 16, exhibits planned for the Toyota booth include information and displays on electrification technology such as hybrid powertrains, and displays relating to "intelligence" and "informatization" technologies and services, which are key fields in China as Toyota re-invents itself as a mobility company.
