Remember the Toyota Corolla FX16? We do. Heck, we even ran them as factory-backed magazine project cars, putting an up-and-coming autocrosser named Randy Pobst behind the wheel. The year was 1987.
Photograph courtesy GRM archives
Toyota aimed the Corolla FX16 at the competition from Honda, VW an…
I'm not normally one of the "it should come with a manual" people, but I'm not sure I fully understand offering an "FX" version and not giving it a manual option.
That said, it does look pretty cool.
Hard to support an "enthusiast" car equipped with a CVT :(
Im wondering how they improved the aero, looks to be the exact same when compared to the normal SE/XSE hatches (aside from wheels of course).
I believe the aero they're talking about means the roof spoiler thing.
Can I just buy the badge for my GR? This sounds like Subaru when they said they were bringing the 2.5RS back, I thought cool! Even without turbo, this could be fun. Nope, CVT only for what they called their "enthusiast" model.
That's a stunning little car in that color with the white wheels! I mean the current gen Corolla always looks pretty good but, wow. They're not making very many so I have no doubt they'll find enough buyers who like the look but don't care about the driving dynamics.
In reply to CrashDummy :
To me, it sort of feels like the limited edition models that Scion used to make. Yeah, they weren't any faster, but they did offer some unique paint options and didn't make a whole bunch, so I think there's some level of "collectability."
CrashDummy said:That's a stunning little car in that color with the white wheels! I mean the current gen Corolla always looks pretty good but, wow. They're not making very many so I have no doubt they'll find enough buyers who like the look but don't care about the driving dynamics.
Yeah, that color combo looks really good and if it had a manual it would be even better.
In reply to Colin Wood :
At least they had "X of 2000" or whatever badges. ;^) (Some had a few options that were special, later xBs had the grill, I think interior upgrades too.)
Also, if they use the same brake pads as my GR, those white wheels will be filthy in 50 miles. I cleaned my orange wheels Monday, today after ~75 miles they look untouched.)
Price?
while i applaud Toyota for using some fun colors on one of their cars, shame on them for calling paint a special edition. When your marketing department has to call attention to lug nuts you know what you did was wrong.
Woody (Forum Supportum) said:Price?
Not yet announced.
David S. Wallens said:Toyota aimed the Corolla FX16 at the competition from Honda, VW and, well, just about everyone else: front-drive layout, spinny 4AGE engine and a five-speed
While I'm also in the "it should come with a manual camp" reading above... they're effectively just doing this again (aiming at competition).
VW Golf? dead. VW GTI? Auto only. Ford Focus? dead. The base model and "sport" Civic are auto only. Subaru Impreza hatchback? auto only.
So, if this is akin to a "sport" model Civic, the competition says a manual trans is unnecessary. The only competition I can think of in terms of a relatively inexpensive hatchback is the Mazda 3 (which ONLY offers a manual in the Premium trim @$30K+).
To be truly special, it would need more performance chops. That car already exists. The GR Corolla, which has a manual. That already plays in the $40K+ sandbox with the likes of the other "special" manual cars like the Integra Type S, Civic Type R, Elantra N and more pricey performance models (Cadillac V, BMW M cars, Porsche, etc.).
We just wish they would've upped the performance chops a bit. The only two left in the space of a usable hatchback with a manual trans and sporting aspirations in the $30Kish range are the Civic Si and the Veloster N. This Corolla didn't aim for those.
I would have longed for something akin to the Civic Si if they are going to revive the FX name. The OG FX was more of an Si competitor. This is a lipstick job. And the auto trans, ugh.
I would really like a true competitor to the Si again. Something that doesn't have the 1.5T which makes me nervous due to some of the complaints I've heard about oil and coolant mixing. Toyota could totally build that, this seems like a missed opportunity to me. I should probably be grateful they even make a hatchback and sell it in the US though.
Offering better color options on this pedestrian version of the Corolla vs what's offered on the GR Corolla feels a little insulting... That blue crush metallic or inferno would be welcome additions to the mundane black, white, and gray options
This seems more like they're reviving the formula for the Tercel Redhawk than the FX16.
In reply to MadScientistMatt :
I did not know what a Redhawk was. Now I do (along with Whitehawk and Blackhawk) and have to agree.
Devolved said:Offering better color options on this pedestrian version of the Corolla vs what's offered on the GR Corolla feels a little insulting... That blue crush metallic or inferno would be welcome additions to the mundane black, white, and gray options
I hadn't even thought about this prior, but yes! Would love some more "real colors" on the GR. The 2024 Circuit edition did get the "Blue flame" as an option but only for that year and only on that trim.
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