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If you can't sleep at night, perhaps picturing of an image of the current Corolla Altis in your mind might help. This is how "interesting" the styling of the car is. However, this is set to change hopefully. Bill Fay, general manager for Toyota and Scion brands in the U.S., tells Ward's Auto that the Corolla will undergo an even more dramatic makeover than the recently launched Toyota Avalon. It appears that the Japanese giant has finally awoken. Toyota's Corolla has been compared to a washing machine, that is simple, reliable, but not something that stirs any sort of emotion. Rival cars such as the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Mazda 3 could have forced the Toyota designers to perhaps even throw away their old drawing board. From far, the current 10th generation Corolla Altis does not look much different from its previous generation especially from the rear view. The eleventh generation of the JDM version of the Corolla, the Axio, went on sale in Japan in May 2012. I believe it would not be long before we see what Toyota has up its sleeve for the international markets. Apart from a radically new design, the Corolla would need a radically new drivetrain for it to keep up with the competition. First and foremost, the 4-speed automatic gearbox has to be expelled from the engine compartment.

It seems Indonesia and the Philippines are getting a sportier facelift for the Toyota Corolla Altis. After quietly debuting over in those countries in 2008, Toyota has now refreshed the exterior of the Altis with a new matt black lined grill/bumper arrangement, black-out lights and sportier looking alloy wheels. I suppose Toyota wants to get rid of that 'uncle' image its cars portray and maybe get the hip, youngish clientele that went for their Vios to come back for another Toyota when they get older. The fun thing about this Corolla Altis is that it now sports a power upgrade too. It now gets 120bhp and 154Nm from the 1.6liter 4cylinder engine instead of 107bhp and previously. The 2.0liter 4 cylinder also gets a boost in power; 145bhp over 135bhp. Too bad Toyota does not sell and market the 2.0liter over in Singapore and Malaysia (only a 1.8liter version above the 1.6liter version). It would be a fun car to drive, regardless of its frumpy 'unclemobile' image. Toyota credits a new induction system that allows more air into the combustion chamber which improves fuel consumption and power in the engines. The 2.0liter in the Philippines comes equipped with a CVT type transmission that comes with flappy pedals behind the steering. The 1.6liter over there comes with, get this, a 6 speed manual gearbox. Toyota is really making the Altis into a sportier creature. Sales in the Philippines begin in September of this year. And check out the fully tricked out version that was on display at the recent 2010 Indonesia International Motor Show below. Can we have these very sporty (compared to what we have) versions over here please? Source: motioncars/author's own