Origin of the Corolla Name
Repeated debate was held within Toyota's Product Planning Division as the team strove to come up with a name that would be suited for a model heading out to the world. Devoted to the search for a name, the team looked through English, Italian and French dictionaries and even through Japan's Anthology of 10,000 Leaves*. In the end, the name Corolla, originating from a Latin term for "crown of flowers," was chosen with hopes that this vehicle would bloom the automotive market.
Some say the name Corolla was chosen because "Toyota likes the letter C." Consider Toyota's lineup of vehicles; there are numerous passenger cars that have names that begin with the letter C. Before the birth of the Corolla, there was the Crown luxury vehicle and the mid-sized Corona. Since the birth of the Corolla, vehicles have included the Celica (1970), the Carina (1970), the Corsa (1978) and the Camry (1980) — all of which begin with the letter C. Incidentally, the CORONA Mark II, which was created as an upper middle class CORONA, was named the CRESSIDA in overseas markets, which once again began with the letter C.
