Toyota just announced its new sporty version of the Toyota Corolla, the Apex Edition aimed at the enthusiast who is looking for a reliable and affordable racing experience. Toyota opened a public statement defining the new Corolla Apex edition as a "head-turning, corner-carving affordable sports sedan". The idea behind this car is to exploit all the Toyota Corolla potential, improving some key points to deliver a more performance oriented and racing experience, while still exploiting the relatively low cost of the Corolla platform.
The Apex Edition
The Corolla Apex Edition will be offered in both the XE and the XSE versions and will be limited to 6,000 units in the 2021 model year. It will offer multilink suspension for better handling and an upgraded peak performance of 169 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 151 lb.-ft. peak torque at 4,800 rpm from its 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine. Toyota also wants to offer a manual version for the old school enthusiast and that's why 120 units will come with manual transmission.
A new body package accentuates the sporty character of the Apex Edition, with a wider front piano black grill with bronze accents, air intakes, 18-inch black aluminum wheels, lowered suspension, and a rear spoiler will be available as an additional option.
Updated Equipment
With this new version also comes an update to the whole Corolla lineup, offering more tech and features, like the now-standard Android Auto compatibility, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa. Safety is also improved in the range with Toyota's Safety Sense 2.0 package as standard, offering a pre-Collision System with Daytime/Low-Light Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection, plus Daytime Bicycle Detection, lane tracing assistance, and Road sign assistance among others. Toyota didn't disclose pricing of both versions of the Apex Edition, but the XE and XSE start at $23,230 and $26,680, respectively, so we assume the price will be just under the $30,000 mark.
Source: Toyota