2014 Toyota Corolla Furia Concept Preview - Detroit Auto Show

The Toyota Corolla Furia Concept was the centerpiece of Toyota's presence at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, but despite all of the pomp and circumstance the vehicle was exclusively a styling exercise.  What that means is that although the Furia gave us an intriguing look at what the replacement for the current Corolla could one day look like, no mechanical or feature details were forthcoming.  The Furia Concept pushes the Corolla in a much more modern direction in terms of design, which is a major plus for the ageing compact sedan, and what we were shown in Detroit would not look out of place in the market if it were to go on sale tomorrow.

What’s New for the Toyota Corolla Furia Concept:

•  Completely new take on compact Toyota Corolla sedan styling.

New Toyota Corolla Furia Concept: Styling and Design

It would be hard to think of a vehicle more different than the current Toyota Corolla than the Toyota Corolla Furia Concept.  The Furia Concept appears to draw from a range of styling cues floating around the small car scene, with a swept grille and headlight treatment that is reminiscent of the Honda Civic and an aggressive front fascia that could fit either a compact Hyundai or Ford.  Out back, the bumper and splitter offer hints of both the Kia Forte and Toyota's own Scion tC.

Despite these similarities to existing compact models, the Corolla Furia does not come across as derivative.  Rather, it is a vehicle of its time, which is not something that could be said for the existing Corolla model.  This is what the 2013 Toyota Corolla should look like right now, and Toyota has done an excellent job of incorporating existing ideas alongside a new design language that has yet to be seen on such a small platform from the Japanese brand.  The Furia is a handsome sedan that is head and shoulders more attractive than any of Toyota's current crop of entry-level cars.

New Toyota Corolla Furia Concept: What Autobytel Thinks

We really like the Toyota Corolla Furia Concept, for a number of reasons.  First, it shows Toyota actually taking a risk by moving away from the production Corolla sedan's conservative looks and embracing a flowing, beautifully-sculpted design that is perfect for the compact car market.  We were also happy to see Toyota acknowledge the fact that while it might sell in huge numbers, the Corolla as it stands now is a dinosaur facing a sea of increasingly sophisticated competitors.  Instead of riding the sedan into the ground and replacing it at the last possible moment, Toyota looks to be on a path that will see the Corolla receive radically updated styling that will hopefully be paired with a next-generation drivetrain and a new suite of high tech features.