Toyota celebrates Corolla 60th edition

Toyota began its Corolla 60th-anniversary campaign in Japan on May 12 with special-edition versions of the Corolla Active Sport and Corolla Touring Active Sport, the company said. The move marks six decades since the Corolla’s 1966 debut. Toyota said the model has now recorded cumulative global sales of more than 57 million vehicles and is sold in more than 150 countries and regions. Spanish outlet Motor16 highlighted the launch on May 18, drawing attention to details including 17-inch black alloy wheels and the Active Sport trim. ### Which Corolla models are part of the first 60th-anniversary rollout? Toyota said the first anniversary models are the Corolla Active Sport and Corolla Touring Active Sport in Japan. The company described them as updated 60th-anniversary editions rather than an all-new generation or a one-off concept. The May 12 release also said Toyota plans to add 60th-anniversary editions of the Corolla Sport and Corolla Cross in Japan from mid-2026 onward. That makes the current launch the opening phase of a broader anniversary program, not the full lineup. ### What is Toyota actually changing on the anniversary cars? Toyota’s release said the anniversary package includes 60th-anniversary logos on the front fenders and a laser-engraved 60th-anniversary logo on the synthetic leather-wrapped instrument panel. (global.toyota) Carscoops, citing the Japanese-market launch, reported the models also receive exclusive emblems, body-colored trim and sport-tuned suspension. Motor16 reported the special edition includes 17-inch black alloy wheels and the Active Sport finish. Toyota’s Japanese Corolla page also lists the Active Sport special edition on sale, with a starting price shown at 3,231,800 yen including tax for the 2WD Corolla Active Sport. ### Why is Toyota centering the anniversary on Japan? (global.toyota) Toyota’s brand site says 2026 marks 60 years since the Corolla was introduced in 1966. The company said the model has passed 57 million units in cumulative sales as of December 2025 on its brand page, while the global newsroom release said sales exceeded 57 million units as of March 2026, excluding Toyota driving-school vehicles. (motor16.com) The same release said Corolla production spans 12 business entities across 11 countries and regions, in addition to three plants in Japan. Toyota named Motomachi, Tsutsumi and Iwate among the domestic sites linked to the model’s production footprint. ### Is this related to the GR Corolla or hot-hatch performance comparisons? Carscoops separately published a comparison of performance hatchbacks that said a 2026 Volkswagen Golf GTI reached 60-120 kph in 4.5 to 4.6 seconds, while test notes criticized the GR Corolla’s slower shifts. (toyota.jp) That comparison is distinct from Toyota’s anniversary announcement, which concerns mainstream Corolla-branded special editions in Japan rather than a GR Corolla update. (global.toyota) Toyota’s own anniversary release tied the Corolla name more broadly to motorsports by referring to the liquid-hydrogen-powered #32 TGRR GR Corolla H2 concept in the Super Taikyu series. The company presented that reference as part of the Corolla family’s wider development story, not as a launch notice for a new GR Corolla anniversary model. ### What else is Toyota bundling into the anniversary push? (carscoops.com) Toyota said it also launched minor updates to the Corolla and Corolla Touring alongside a new Corolla-based vehicle for driving schools in Japan. The company said that driving-school model is available as a hybrid under its “multi-pathway” approach. The Japanese Corolla brand site says the 60th-anniversary content now includes a history section, owner stories from several countries and a chief engineer interview. (global.toyota) Toyota framed the campaign as both a product update and a broader brand milestone tied to the Corolla’s global reach. Toyota said the next step is the mid-2026 launch in Japan of 60th-anniversary editions for the Corolla Sport and Corolla Cross. (global.toyota) The company’s Japanese retail pages and brand site are now carrying the anniversary material and current pricing for the Active Sport variants. (toyota.jp)