Toyota to Unveil New 2009 Corolla, Matrix in Vegas

The importance of the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas, which focuses on the automotive aftermarket, has grown in recent years, as Honda, Mitsubishi and Toyota have all used the event to launch new vehicles and concepts. This year, Toyota is upping the ante with plans to unveil its redesigned 2009 Corolla there on Oct. 31.

The Corolla has aged well up to now and is still one of the best-selling cars in the country. However, it certainly deserves this redesign. Toyota also announced today it will roll out the 2009 Matrix at SEMA. The mini-ute/wagon/hatchback shares an assembly line with the Pontiac Vibe, which will also get a new design this year, though we’re unsure at which show GM will roll it out. 

We’ll have more information on the new Corolla and Matrix as Halloween approaches.

Related
Toyota's Next Matrix More Powerful, New Name Possible (KickingTires)
GM Speeding 2009 Pontiac Vibe to Production (KickingTires)

Comments

I look 4ward to seeing if it at all resembles the "Auris" we have in Europe?! I know it will prolly not be a hatchback like the Auris but maybe it will look similar in front. Toyota usually doesn't take so long between redesigns!

Halloween is a good time to introduce a new Toyota because the new Corolla will probably be haunted by the same engineering and build quality poltergeists that seem to be spooking every recently released new Toyota model.

Can't wait to see if they make a significant price increase too. The Yaris and the current Corolla are very close in price. For the features and options you get it's better to buy the Corolla...and it only get 1 mpg less than the Yaris.

New Corolla?
Like this? http://toyota.jp/avensissedan/
Or this? http://toyota.jp/corollaaxio/
Could it be this? http://toyota.jp/allion/

looks like another hard plastic mobile. it will probably just be a bloated yaris.

Talking about plastic, the Civic has more plastic than the current Corolla.

It is about time... but I hope is best that the latest models.

Well, now we've seen it and all i can say is: BORING! They took the awesome Auris / Blade and watered them down into typical US Toyota grannymobiles.

The Matrix looks like a slightly revamped version of the current model (complete with that ugly downward swooping roofline and upward-swooping window line that no one in their right mind should enjoy looking at) and isn't going to steal any sales away from the Mazda 3. And no two-door model to compete with the Rabbit/GTI.

(And what's up with that crazy dash configuration on the Matrix? HUH? Who thinks that looks good? Fire the US design team, NOW.)

I was so excited to see the Auris / Blade come to the US as-is, especially the hatch version, but I guess I'll be looking somewhere other than Toyota because they've let us down once again.

2009 Corolla
* Did Toyoa go to a much more desirable fully independent rear suspension or carry over the same old semi-indepent suspension that is used on the 08 Corolla and Yaris?
* With a 1.8L engine, car weight will be critical and will probably be more than the 08 Corolla which is not desirable with this small an engine.
* Is the engine the same as the 08 Corolla but tuned to a slightly higher Hp? If so, this is a significantly undersquare engine that is not desirable with a stick shift.

Not impressed with the toyotas design. Matrix is just nasty. The pontiac vibe is much more sleek. The corolla is lame. Whats there deal. Alot of people losing faith in them. All the recalls don't help either.