An updated Toyota Corolla pops up in China

In Toyota’s lineup, one prominent member of its family hasn’t gotten updated recently— the Corolla. While whispers on the Internet say that it’s well due for a new generation, you also have to remember that the 12th generation has been out since 2018, and it also has two distinct appearances in different parts of the world.

In China, Toyota gets both the American and Japanese appearance (the one that looks like the GR Corolla) under the GAC-Toyota-made Corollas, and the Southeast Asian-based model (the Corolla Altis that we have) is made by FAW-Toyota.

Now, based on images leaked online from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), it seems that the Corolla will be getting a heavy update over there, and it will be for the FAW-Toyota-made model.

While there are no interior photos, the car will be getting Toyota’s new corporate hammerhead shark face, complete with the C-shaped lighting, a grille with an LED strip, and a sleek, smaller lower bumper grille.

Meanwhile, the rest of the car seems relatively unchanged, even at the back, where the taillights retain the same shape, but are now smoked and connected by a light bar, similar to Toyota’s other modern offerings.

Will we expect our Corolla Altis to follow suit? Only Toyota truly knows, and we’ll be able to find out once Toyota officially confirms whether the nameplate will be getting an entirely new generation or another heavy facelift.

^{Photos from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology}