Special Edition Corolla GLi – A last hurrah?
We have been continuously hearing rumors that Toyota is thinking about discontinuing Corolla XLi and GLi and launching a smaller sedan, or even a hatchback, instead. The smaller sedan in question here is Toyota Vios. There is more chance of IMC opting for Honda Atlas-like strategy and launching a Honda City competitor than launching something, a 1000cc hatchback like Vitz for instance, that can disturb the balance of the force.
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And now there is one more hint towards the fact that it might actually happen. Toyota has decided to launch a Special Edition Corolla GLi. Toyota dealerships have started to take orders of this special edition GLi and deliveries are expected to be in March/April 2018.
I say this is a hint towards the shift to a discontinuance of the current 1300cc lineup because this is something companies usually do when they want to introduce a new product but also want to sell the outgoing product as much as possible. This is something Suzuki did as well with the older Cultus when it was about to launch the new generation Cultus.
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As for what is “special’ about the new special edition Corolla GLi, well you get three additional choices in colors which weren’t previously available in XLi/GLi variants. Those colors are
- Super White
- Dorado Gold
- Phantom Brown
Also, there are some new added amenities and tidbits as well. Like you get side skirts, new infotainment system as well as a luggage tray. The Special Edition Corolla GLi will cost the customers PKR 110,000 extra on top of the normal price of a GLi.
In the end, all that can be said is that if Toyota is killing the much-loved GLi and XLi lineup, you can expect the demand, and in return prices, of new/slightly used pre-owned GLi’s to skyrocket. The premium is going to rise as well. Both of these 1300cc variants were so in demand because on the one hand, you get a full-fledged sedan, and on the other hand a smaller engine; that means lower taxes (less ownership costs).
And Toyota Vios is obviously a smaller car. Some of Toyota’s customer base might not like the shift to a smaller car which is going to cost just as much, if not more, that the departing GLi/XLi. But until all that happens, let’s just wait and see. Happy motoring!