Toyota's Euro-spec Corolla confirmed for Oz

Earlier today Toyota revealed its 11th-generation Corolla sedan in Santa Monica and now Turkey has hosted the debut of the European version, providing a more accurate indication of the small four-door that will go on sale in Australia early next year.

Toyota Australia has confirmed the Euro-spec 2014 Corolla sedan is closer in appearance to the version we’ll receive from Japan “during the first half of next year”, although it previously said it would arrive here in February – 14 months after the new Corolla hatchback went on sale.

Replacing the model launched here in May 2007, our next Corolla sedan will get a chromed twin-slat grille and clamshell bonnet, plus larger headlights and a more subtle lower trapezoidal bumper opening than the US model (pictured here in blue) with its narrow headlights, blacked-out grille and gaping lower grille.

Although few specs have been released, Toyota says the European Corolla’s all-new interior is “significantly” roomier and quieter, and comes with redesigned seats that are lower and feature an extended range of adjustments up front and more legroom and luxury in the rear.

It’s not clear if the European/Australian Corolla sedan will be quite as long as the US version, which grows by 100mm in wheelbase (to 2700mm), 110mm in length (to 4650mm for the premium S grade) and 16mm in width to 1776mm, but is 10mm lower at 1455mm.

As we’ve reported, like the latest Corolla five-door, the new four-door will come with the same slightly more powerful 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and manual and new seven-speed CVT automatic transmissions as seen in the Corolla hatch, but not the hybrid and diesel powertrains expected in other markets.

No local details have been announced, but Toyota Motor Sales USA says the 2014 Corolla is the first compact car equipped with standard LED low-beam headlights, while some US models will be available with an app-compatible colour a touch-screen sound system, rear decklid spoiler, steering wheel paddle shifters, push-button starting and SofTex seat trim.

The 2014 Corolla sedan will be a key part of Toyota Australia’s small-car assault on the dominant Mazda3 next year in Australia, where the new hatch and six-year-old sedan have made the Corolla the nation’s top-selling car so far in 2013.

Toyota has sold more than 1.2 million Corollas in Australia – about one-fifth of the Japanese giant’s total sales here – and more than 39.7 million globally since 1966.