Aggressive Corolla Furia Concept Could Be Toyota’s Next Step

DETROIT – Toyota offers a first look at the future of its enduring Corolla compact with the Corolla Furia concept unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The Furia is notably more aggressively styled than the current Corolla, with sharper lines across the front and rear fascias, a sleek, blacked-out grille, 19-in. spoke wheels, a sloping roofline and light-emitting diodes in the headlights and taillamps.

Carbon-fiber finishes are included on the wheel wells, rocker panels and rear valance, and black metal exhausts lend to a more intimidating look.

Called “Iconic Dynamism,” Toyota says the design theme targets younger customers. The wheelbase and overall length are slightly longer than the current Corolla, and the auto maker says short overhangs above the wheels give the compact a more athletic stance.

“The Corolla Furia Concept is an early indicator of where our compact-car design may lead in the future,” Bill Fay, group vice president and general manager-Toyota Div., says in a news release. “It blends a heightened emphasis on dramatic design and modern elements of high technology to generate curb appeal that will surprise a lot of people.”

The Corolla was the second-best-selling compact in the U.S. last year, according to WardsAuto data. Toyota delivered 290,947 Corollas, short of Honda’s 317,909 Civics but ahead of Ford’s 245,922 Focuses.