Toyota turbocharges Corolla

Toyota has released a facelifted version of Australia's top-selling Corolla hatchback in Japan, where it's known as the Auris, complete with a brand-new 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a new range of advanced driver safety aids.

As it confirmed when the upgraded Auris made its world debut at the Geneva motor show last month, Toyota Australia will not import the new '120T' turbo-petrol model, which is positioned as the flagship of the Japanese range.

Instead, Australia's Corolla hatch will continue to be offered solely with a 103kW 1.8-litre petrol four, albeit with improved efficiency, and will also continue to miss out on improved petrol-electric hybrid and diesel powertrains available in Europe.

Toyota remains coy on the make-up of its 2015 Corolla hatch line-up, which in Europe and Japan scores a new grille, front bumper and headlights, plus a restyled dash, new trim materials, new 4.2-inch TFT display, revised air-vents, new door-handles and different infotainment and air-conditioning systems.

So far it has confirmed only that the midlife makeover for its latest top-selling small hatch, which was released Down Under in October 2012 (followed by an all-new Corolla sedan in February 2014), will bring better ride and handling thanks to revised suspension and steering.

It is unknown whether the Japanese giant's new Toyota Safety Sense C driver-aid package, which employs laser radar and camera technology for the first time in the Corolla, will be available here. In Japan, the package comes standard on 1.2-litre turbo and 1.8-litre models, and is available as an option on 1.5-litre models.

Matching some but not all of the safety features available in other small cars Down Under, it includes a Pre-Collision System (PCS) with an automatic emergency braking function that can reduce speeds by 30km/h, Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Automatic High Beam (AHB) and an audio and visual alert that warns drivers when vehicles in front move off at traffic lights.

It also remains unclear exactly when the updated Corolla five-door will go on sale in Australia, the Japanese giant saying only that it will arrive "later this year".

However, production began last month in Japan, where Australia's Corollas are built, and motoring.com.au understands dealers will have stocks of the upgraded model by June.

For the record, the Auris's new 8NR-FTS 1196cc direct-injection 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine is an undersquare design (71.5×74.5mm bore x stroke) and employs Variable Valve Timing-intelligent Wide (VVT-iW – including intake valve timing)

Fitted in Europe with a six-speed manual transmission and in Japan with a CVT auto, it produces 85kW of power at 5200-5600rpm and 185Nm of torque at 1500-4000rpm.

The Auris 1.2 is claimed to hit 100km/h in 10.1 seconds and a top speed of 167km/h, while consuming 4.7L/100km and emitting 109g/km of CO2 (4.6L/100km and 106g/km auto).

The European Auris' 2.0-litre D-4D turbo-diesel engine has been replaced with a new 1.6-litre oil-burner offering 82kW and 270Nm – enough for 0-100km/h acceleration in 10.5 seconds and a 190kmh top speed. The diesel Auris consumes 4.1L/100km and emits 104g/km.

There's also an upgraded 66kW/205Nm 1.4-liter D-4D engine that meets Euro 6 emissions standards and comes with a new turbocharger, different piston design and a new plastic cylinder-head, reducing friction by 20 per cent, cutting NOx emissions by 55 per cent and fuel consumption by 3.4 per cent.

The Auris also receives LED lighting front and rear, a new shark-fin roof antenna, fresh 16- and 17-inch alloys, seven exterior paint colours including two new metallic hues (Blue and Citrus Mica Metallic) and a new Rouge interior colour scheme for the 120T.