Exportation of the Toyota Corolla from Japan to the United States began in March of 1968, selling for about $1700. At the time, this compact car was available as a two door coupe, a four door sedan or a two door wagon. The 1.1 liter 4 cylinder engine with 4 speed manual transmission provided the power, at the time, to the smallest car Toyota had ever introduced to the American marketplace. Since then, the original simple design and reliable mechanical engineering of the Corolla have served as the foundation for many future generations of this car which went on to become the most popular car line in automotive history. With the exception of the Land Cruiser, the Corolla is the oldest Toyota model still manufactured and produced as of the 2007 model year.
The 1983 Toyota Corolla is often considered the most popular model year, in part due to the change from rear wheel drive to front wheel drive, with over 3 million cars were produced and sold. Time and consistent development lead to the 1997 model year when the Corolla was then recognized as the bestselling car in the world, with over 30 million sold since its inception as of the 2007 model year.
With the beginning of production for the 1998 model year, all Corollas manufactured for sale in North America were built in the United States or Canada. In 2003 a new generation of Corolla was introduced to the United States with three trim styles-CE, S and LE, all powered by an improved and exceptionally fuel efficient and lightweight 1.8 liter engine. With a larger wheel base providing more cabin room and comfort than ever before, the reputation of the Corolla as a dependable, economical and comfortable form of transportation continued to drive consumer interest and sales of the affordably priced compact car.
In addition to numerous awards throughout the years, the 2007 Toyota Corolla has been recognized as one of the highest quality compact cars in America as determined by a JP Powers and Associates survey of those who have had the opportunity to own and operate the 2007 Corolla, a testament to the quality build, affordable price and excellent customer service provided.
