A Corolla that is off-road-focused sounds like fun.
Around the globe, automakers are looking for new ways to sell buyers. A small suspension lift with gray plastic cladding can make your hatchback an off-road threat. Take a look at the VW Golf Alltrak and Chevrolet Spark Activ to see some examples. They are tough. Most people won’t think of off-roading as more difficult than driving on a dirt road. Young buyers who live an active lifestyle will find the aesthetic appealing. Automakers can charge more for the added athleticism – and Toyota may be able to cash in on this raised hatchback trend.
AutoGuide.com reports that a Japanese automaker has applied for a patent at the European Intellectual Property Organization (EIPO) for the Corolla Cross. A patent does not mean anything in the automotive industry, as we all know. To protect their intellectual property, automakers often trademark and patent a variety of names. Sometimes, they patent a name that is supposed to be used in a production car. But the project dies. This is not unusual.
There are no details about the Toyota Corolla Cross. We can make a pretty good guess as to how it will look. It will have a raised suspension, small wheels and knobby tires. The body will be covered in plastic. This is all that’s needed to transform an otherwise mundane hatch into a well-equipped off-road vehicle. The Corolla Cross would likely have the same turbocharged, 1.8-liter or naturally aspirated 2.0 liter engines. Both the CVT automatic and six speed manual transmissions would be retained.
These vehicles are so popular that Ford is bringing Focus Active to the U.S. This trim will be the only Focus offered in the country. There is currently a patent filing at the European Intellectual Property Organization. A quick search on the United States Patent and Trademark Office returns zero results. Toyota could enter this segment with the Corolla Cross, which would not require much investment. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months.