Corolla Gets Hotted Up

To complement the performance potential of the new engine, a 6-speed manual transmission is the only gearbox offered. The shifts are short, contributing to the sporty, glued-to-the-road feel. The suspension has also been tuned to enhance on-road stability. The normal MacPherson-type front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension get sport-tuned struts, stiffer springs, sturdier stabilizer bars, and a sport strut tower brace. The ride height is lowered slightly, and the Corolla XRS rolls on 16-in. alloy wheels with P195/55R16 summer tires. Inside those rims, four-wheel disc brakes with standard ABS reside. Other Corollas stop via front discs and rear drums, with ABS offered optionally. To direct the car, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is variable, and senses the engine's speed. Stability and traction control, found on some S and LE models, will not arrive on XRS versions.

On the exterior, the XRS is very similar to a Corolla S. "Smoked" headlight lenses and integrated fog lamps distinguish the S and XRS from other Corollas, as do the body-colored trunk-lid spoiler, front and rear underbody spoilers, side rocker panel moldings, and rear mudguards. A sharp eye will separate the XRS from the S, by XRS's body-colored grille surround and larger wheels and tires.