The world’s bestselling car just got an angular facelift.
At last week’s Tokyo Auto Show, Toyota pulled the wraps off a concept version of its Corolla sedan — a low-slung, grill-less shape cut through with jagged lines and LED light bars.
Inside, the new Corolla features a flat floor, dual front screens, and a drive selector shaped like a miniature glass version of the car.
It’s a striking look for a nameplate that’s spent 60 years leaning into practicality over personality.
Since 1966, Toyota has sold more than 50million Corollas, giving it a near-permanent hold on the title of the world’s most popular car.
But this concept hints that the automaker’s most sensible model might be heading in a more daring direction.
As with most concepts, this isn’t the exact car that’ll hit showrooms — it’s more of a design statement. But not everyone’s on board with the new look.
‘Did it already get in a wreck?’ a driver joked on the Corolla’s subreddit thread.
Toyota’s Corolla is one of the most important cars in American automaking history – the popular small car came to the states in the in 1968 and quickly became a best-seller
The Corolla, which originally launched in Japan in 1966, was a small two-door vehicle that helped turn Toyota into a dominant automaker
‘It looks ugly and overly complicated,’ another said. ‘There are a bunch of random lines for no reason.’
Toyota insists the goal was simple: create a car that looks cool without destroying a driver’s bank account.
It’s a worthwhile goal, especially in the States. Last month, the average price to drive a new vehicle off a dealership lot jumped over $50,000.
That has forced most American car buyers into monthly payments of more than $750 and an average down payment north of $6,000.
The 2026 Corolla’s base price remains under $23,000. It’s one of just 18 models sold in the US with a price under $30,000.
And while the striking design is getting the boatload of attention, the car’s engine detail is the most important story: The automaker says the next generation will get inspiration from gas engines, two hybrid systems or an EV battery.
A Toyota rep didn’t immediately respond to the Daily Mail’s comment request about the car, including our questions about plans for US models.
At the same show, Toyota unveiled plans for a high-end Lexus LS van with six wheels. The model also came with a grill-less face, likely meaning the car would receive power from an electric battery.
Toyota’s CEO, Koji Sato, helped unveil the ultra-modern-looking Corolla concept
The new car features a flat floor and replaces the traditional gear shifter with a glass miniature of the vehicle
So far, reviews of the design have been mixed – though Toyota will likely make updates to the design before it launches in the US
Toyota also unveiled the design for a six-wheel Lexus van, the LS – it will likely feature a gigantic battery engine
It also comes as Toyota readies to re-launch the CH-R in the US market as a fully-electric SUV with around 300 miles of range and a base price of around $35,000.
Toyota is also adding more electric components to its other best-selling cars, years after making the best-selling Camry only available as a hybrid.
In 2026, the RAV-4, the third most popular vehicle in the US, will only have plug-in or mild hybrid options.
Right now, there are three variants of the Corolla rolling off American dealership lots.
Drivers can opt for the ever-popular sedan, the increasingly popular Corolla Cross small SUV, or the enthusiast-oriented hatchback.
The sedan and SUV can be outfitted with a mild hybrid system. None of the three models offers a fully electric option.
