Toyota Corolla packed with a lil’ action?
November 5, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Although for most of us the Toyota Corolla has always been viewed as a car without soul, a car which defines the idea of “A->B”, Toyota has begun a new battle to change our perception.
To do this, the Big T has started online, indirectly informing blogs (such as CarAdvice) to promote a series of new car ads that show the Corolla in a different light.
The ad in question is below:
Ninja Kittens, as it’s called, is one of the more interesting car ads we’ve seen in some time. Whilst there has never been a doubt about the marketing genius behind Toyota, the problems have never been in the marketing department!
For us, Toyota can start by releasing a TRD variant, giving the Corolla some more sportiness in the form of a more powerful engine and more agressive styling, then of course there is the need for standard ESC etc. The list goes on.
What we like to know is whether or not this type of marketing will actually change your perception? And if not your perception, do you think it can change the way in which others view the Corolla?
Print it: 
OMG definately a Cardigan with velcro tabs and Zippers…..
but love the ad though.
Yawn!!!
I believe it, Corollas are driven by PUSSIES!
TRD variant for the Corolla.
As long as it doesn’t depreciate in the showroom like the TRD Aurion i.e started at 75k now can be had according to last Sundays Sydney papers for 49990 driveaway.
Oh what a sinking feeling especially if u bought one when it was released.
Correction 65k was thinking of the TRD Hilux for 75k.
Nope. Not me. I’d rather a Focus or Civic or 3 or i30 or Megane or Golf or 308 or Leon or 147 or C4 or Octavia or Cee’d or C30 or Astra or SX4 or Impreza or Lancer or A Class or 1 Series or Bravo or A3 or, um, are there any more? Infact, the only two cars that I can think of in this sector that I would get a Corolla over is the Proton Gen2 and the Viva/Lacetti. Cool ad though. Bring us a proper big engined hard suspensioned turbocharged supercharged evil rocket ship from hell and then maybe I’ll change my perceptions. Until then…
Usually pussy whipped as she who must be obeyed usually makes the choice.
FMD people are paid to come up with ideas like this!
laurie
A TRD Corolla – Does that mean they’re going to shoehorn the supercharged V6 out of the Aurion or Hilux into the Rolla?
Or just bolt on a supercharger giving it a whopping extra 20Kw
either way it would mean having to cut a hole in the bonnet
I would rather a Corolla over a Focus or Megane or Golf or 308 or Leon or 147 or C4 or Octavia or Cee’d or C30 or Astra or SX4 or Impreza or Lancer or A Class or 1 Series or Bravo or A3. No contest the others are crap.
Having said that, the Corolla does need a bit of soul. Would it kill Toyota to release a model with a bigger/more powerful engine or a diesel engine maybe even AWD? They have all the gear already developed.
It is a great car but needs more then one drive train.
The fact that Toyota have had to reduce the price of the TRD Aurion [2-3 times] shows that by just bolting on a supercharger adding a few interior highlights a tacky bodykit and a couple of stickers doesn’t automatically transform the car into something special nor is it enough to justify the premium price let alone change peoples perceptions.
And given that the TRD Aurion originally had a $20-30K premium.. The TRD Rolla will probably be around $30-40K meaning that it will be competing [on price] with the legendary VW Golf GTi…. I don’t like its chances
And this does what exactly? An exciting advertisement for a car that is every flavor of average?
Corolla’s are great little cars, but this is about as realistic as promoting exciting microwaves that participate in extreme sports.
How about a 150kw+ turbocharged model thanks Toyota.
The Corolla Sportivo, while not being the king of hot hatches, was at least a bargain and a bit of a decent drive. A small turbo engine with a similar strategy to that can go a long way.
Given corolla is THE top selling car in the segment, they shouldnt be trying to wash the grey image out of the car by spending more money in marketing….but should instead give it to their TRD arm – I totally agree with you guys….cmon, the first ad had signs melting, now ninja cats fighting….all as true as putting the words corolla and adrenalin together!
If Mazda can make a the 3 MPS, why cant these guys with massive budgets….? I know, coz grandma wont have anything to drive anymore….and on that point, what makes them think introducing a hi po version with deter grandma anyway…she s been sold for decades…:)
Nice ad, but unfortunately, I think they re putting their money in the wrong place.
Toyota…..LMAO driven by pussies! And yes Toyota’s have no soul….just a solid good allrounder, not flash and not unreal and soul less.
To make the TRD work, go back to RWD like the rollas of the pre 1990’s, such as the AE’s and KE’s.
I agree with SamR. The Corolla needs a bit of soul.
That’s what the Focus, Megane, Golf, 308, Leon, 147, C4, Octavia, C’eed, C30, Astra, SX4, Impreza, Lancer, A Class, 1 Series, Bravo and A3 have. Even the Mazda 3 has it.
I might have missed something here, of course. Tongue-in-cheek comment, SamR?
Surely we should all be encouraging Toyota to produce more interesting cars?
Actually saw a Corolla sedan recently that looked similar to the car shown here and noted to my wife that it was a real shame that Toyota was unwilling to offer Aussies a performance version of this vehicle as Mitsubishi is doing with the 2.4 litre Lancer .
Oh, and another thing. A properly sorted TRD Corolla hatch with minimal additional body plastic could have lots of street cred and give it the soul some say it lacks. TRD should have tried its treatment on the Corolla instead of the ridiculous Hi Lux.
The picture shows a sedan with a boot spoiler. Wow. Golly diddums gosh. That won’t do it. I’ve always laughed at people who buy a humdrum sedan and cave in to a salesman’s suggestion to put a spoiler on their car for a mere $500 to make it look nice.
No, I don’t think this form of marketing will work that ad just seems stupid. I think Toyota were on a good thing with the Corolla Sprotivo from the previous model series – 141kw and a 6 speed manual, it was a hot hatch, probably not by todays standards but I think a model similar to this would sit nice in the model range (or perhaps one with a TRD badge on it). Back it with some decent advertising to give it some market coverage and it could be a winner. After all I don’t remember seeing any form of advertisment for the previous Corolla Sportivo to distinguish it from the base, granny-pack model.
Simonsez, lets not kid ourselves, the 2.4 lancer is far from any sort of performance vehicle.
A TRD Corolla needs to happen, but i don’t want to see it sell for 40k. Why can’t Toyota aim it at a price point closer to 30 grand?
I can’t say any Toyota being a super stiff version, but honestly, for 30-34 a 160kw Corolla with some sort of sportish suspension would sell in whordes. If they price it against the rest of the competition though, i doubt it will sell.
Back in the day the Twin Cam Corollas were almost desirable. But then the Camry arrived and with a sea of cardigan grey irrelevance descended over Toyota. From that moment on they became home appliances on wheels.
Toyota sells plenty of product by catering to people who don’t give a toss. They should stick to looking after people who get what they deserve.
The ad is odd. Would’ve been better to show more car stunts. Start with the J-turn to run away, follow it with some fancy driving, showing that a FWD hatch can be used to great effect.
SamR I assume you’re being sarcastic. Because if you rate the Corolla over the others you might be thinking of the wrong car.
Boring is waht boring is ……….Toyota !!! They tried to build a car with some character and failed failed failed…….TRD CAMRY|AURION………..what a joke. A TRD Corolla would be just be a pointless exercise because it is a mode of transport in its most basic boring way and a body kit wont change anything.
True Ricers will laugh at the the thought!It doesn’t fit into the performance stakes at all! They are still discounting the TRD Camry 12 months after,how the hell do they think a Rolla will work for them? Driveshafts and performance cars don’t go together!
TRD….. BFD!!!!!
Spend some money on the Car Toyota not more smoke and mirror ads.
How about a proper new milleniun suspension tech?
Maybe they put cats in the add because they appeal to 70yr old plus women, just like the car!
the funniest thing is we will see a RAV4 TRD before the corolla!!!!
gee toyota can sure sell cars but are dead set backward when it comes to getting off the bland train.
i would have loved to be a fly on the wall in the conference where the ideas of a FWD TRD camry, TRD Hilux and now TRD Rav4 were thrown around.
surely the TRD brand is taking the piss.
Ive got a vision of someone like Ned Flanders at the Head of TRD.
Dont be sucked in by Toyota quality (lack of) either, its not as good as they would like you to believe. Reliability is ok but quality (or reliability) is not up to Honda or Mazda standards.
Andrew M – I think next on the list is the TRD Hiace.
Wheelnut, just what the delivery man needs,a hiace that will get to the destination quickly… just as long as you dont have to go around corners! LOL
No, I was not kidding. The Corolla is the car to buy (with the Mazda 3 and Civic) in the segment it goes after which is the quality economical cheap transport segment. (Why you would buy a Corolla Levin beats me)
All the Euro and Korean cars, with the possible exception of the i30, are expensive to run crap in my opinion.
If you want some Euro prestige in your motoring then by all means buy a Golf, Renault or Citroen etc but be prepared to pay for it in higher running costs, reduced reliability and poor resale. Otherwise they are Ok
Just my opinion.
As a corolla owner (20yr old male at the time of purchase) i though i should share my reasonindgs for my purchase. At the time i was still a ‘P’ plater making bugger all driving near 75km a day to and from work etc. I needed a A-B car that wasn’t going to leave me with out money on Saturday.
My only desire was Japanese design for their culture of quality and not a Hatch. Price and recommendation from family members pointed towards the Corolla.
Sure i would love a car with a bit more soul as some people put it, probably why i read this website. But there are real world constrants and other priorities in place.
So what does that make me? If i could i would buy that new Aston Martin running around in the teaser sections, hell id settle for an XR6 Turbo, so does that still mean I’m a pussy?
SamR no logic to your comments whatsoever.
Resale and reliability are not exclusive to Toyota as Toyota would have u think.
If u accept this then there are many worthy alternatives to a Corolla and given Toyota’s more for less pricing.
Look better,go better,drive better etc etc etc.
Seeing more and more of Toyota’s traditional buyers going to Hyundai for similar blandness and reliability etc for a lot less especially taking into account the extra fruit.
Hyundai need to expand their range then watch out.
Anthonii, Mazda3, similar price, better drive. Also better quality and reliability. Trust me, have big family that own Toyotas and Mazdas. Everyone that owns Toyota wishes they bought the Mazda.
Nice work from Saatchi & Saatchi, but not so sure about the car itself.
5/10
The Corolla engine bay can take a V6-I’m not 100% sure but I think you can get the V6 Corolla in Japan.
Anyway,it smells a bit fishy to me :)
Well SamR, I certainly hope you don’t try to pass yourself off as a car enthusiast. I will agree that not all of those cars that I listed have the best reliability records, but the german ones do and the Korean ones do. The French ones, sadly, can still be a bit iffy. As can the Italians but even thats starting to change. The Corolla is not the logical car to buy in this segment. The Golf or the Focus are the best all rounders. They are both practical, reliable, good looking, fun to drive in base model (especially the Focus), fantastic build quality, good resale and you don’t get that reputation as the guy that was convinced by the Toyota salesman. I suppose if your going to go for a standard Japanese car, at least the Mazda 3s there (also quite a logical choice, but not that fun if not in MPS guise).
Falcodore
Long story short, I got a fleet discount which was several grand that was not available with the Mazda.
Ive driven plenty of cars and idling in peak hour most cars short of size are much the same. There is something bigger, better coming out daily, though at 60,000 clicks, not a problem. I got what i wanted when i bought and I’m happy.
Aurion V6, 6-speed and independent rear suspension – enough to kill those bogan cars. And yes, ESP and CVT/5-speed auto for the rest of the range.
Sam R – you’re having a laugh, suppose someone has to play devils advocate. A few months ago Car & Driver Mag (Yanks) test pretty much all the cars named and rated the Corolla in the bottom 2/3rds. That was based on pretty much everything you would when comparing cars Price, Value Performance economy etc etc. The VW Golf (rabbit) came a sensible 1st.
Corolla TRD – viable but flawed (tee hee). Look to the Toyota website for a hot hatch version of the corolla (Auris) 2.2 diesel, dull for a hot hatch really.
White corolla’s are great cars they are annonymous and easy to hide in a carpark, and when you cruise by a working girl street you can pick up and your wfe wont know its you. its fantastic. I love them and thats my bottom line toyota corollas may be souless cars but you dont get annoyed by the police, if you do something wrong you can park in the carpark and people generally wont notice you. You appear to be smarter than the average person, and guys, unless the girl your chasing is a red neck or image concious looney, and trust me girls like this arent worth it. the chick is actually going to be impressed by the corolla over your VY SERIES 2 HOLDEN SS COMMODORE THAT COSTS YOU $200 A WEEK JUST FOR PETROL NOT INCLUDING THE REPAYMENTS. Corollas are a much better proposition
I suddenly have the urge to go and buy a corrola.Not really i would much rather a mazda3 or a honda civic
Whats more important for BIGT [tm.F-0] to do, is offer TCS and Stab. control on the Corolla
Also rear electric windows, and 15,000km service intervals
Cheers
F-0
The S2000 Corolla being very successfully campaigned by bates and taylor in Australia should have given Toyota enough advertising material to ensure the corolla is no slouch. Oh I forgot that’s AWD with 190KWs. Do toyota sell a road version, no they don’t. TRD developed these cars so why not build/sell some watered down ones. Subaru have effectively used rallying to show their performance cred for years so I’m sure Toyota could do the same for the corolla.
I guess ..all the thoughts of the people who have written here are a minority. Whether you like it or not the Corolla is a top selling car. I for one would like Toyota to spend some of their marketing dollars on making the a 2.0L turbo version of the car. Looking at the history they may make a performance version but it will be out of date in terms of power and equipment.
Corollas appeal to the many people who do not like driving, do not want a driver’s car and are purchasing a car like ‘whitegoods’. This is a large but unexicting market. Why try to change it? Are they trying to change the appeal or is it to make the target market feel better about a Corolla?
Here’s a novel idea;
Get the Toyota Matrketing team to swap with the Design team ;D
I like conservative styling, so actually think the sedan looks good. All Toyota needs to do with this model is bring out a diesel version and bring out a sports model, ideally with the camry 2.4 and bolt on a turbo. The problem for toyota with doing this is sales of the camry will be eaten into. The size of the current corolla sedan is larger than an early 90’s camry. I saw a top of the range version on the road yesterday, it looked okay, was being driven by a 45 year old ish woman, what can i say but toyota is not the number 1 seller for nothing, they have the name and reputation, and belive it or not chaps, but conservative, bland and reliable still sells.
To answer CA’s question, pfffftttttttt, no this advertising definitely won’t change my perception… this car is still a mini-cardigan (like a mini-me, hahaha). It’s just so gawd-damn awfully brain-deadening BORING!!! Wake up Toyota!!!
Anyways, Toyota need to realise that a fair portion of the age bracket they aim this car at download most of their TV shows, hence they’ll never see these ads. Plus, there’s the bunch that have PVRs or HTPCs, and will skip the ads if they’re recording or time-shifting FTA TV.