Toyota South Africa Motors says it hopes to expand its fresh-faced Corolla range with a hybrid version of the sedan later in 2020.

Riaan Esterhuysen, manager for product communications at Toyota SA, told media during an online product presentation for the new Corolla Sedan that a hybrid powertrain option would likely be added towards the middle of the year.

“We are in the final stages of studying a local market introduction of the Corolla hybrid and that will form part of our hybrid rollout across the Toyota model ranges,” Esterhuysen said.

“We are targeting a mid-year [launch of the Corolla hybrid] but that is still to be confirmed,” he added.

Engine options in the new Corolla Sedan range in South Africa include a 1,8-litre unit and a 2,0-litre mill, both naturally aspirated, petrol flavoured and featuring four cylinders. Europe, meanwhile, offers a hybrid version of each.

Esterhuysen separately told CARmag.co.za that Toyota SA was studying the 1,8 Hybrid “as the first step”, suggesting the Japanese firm’s local arm would “monitor market demand” before considering adding the 2,0 Hybrid derivative to the mix.

In Europe, the Corolla Sedan 1,8 Hybrid variant offers a total system output of 90 kW, with the petrol engine contributing 142 N.m and the 53 kW front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor (drawing power from a lithium-ion battery pack) bringing 163 N.m.

Esterhuysen furthermore confirmed there were no plans to offer the Corolla Sedan with the turbocharged 1,2-litre petrol unit employed by the Corolla Hatch.

“The turbo engine for this vehicle; we’ve paired that with the Corolla Hatch and that will remain the model structure,” he said.

Original article from Car