Is Toyota Hatching the 2019 Corolla iM in New York? [News]

2019 Toyota Corolla iM under egg
What’s under the egg? [Photo: Toyota]

Toyota has a special surprise waiting to hatch at the New York Auto Show…but what could it be?

Which came first, the car or the egg? Toyota is taking the opportunity to cook up some hype around a new model, using #ToyotaHatch to show off…something. Before making the trek to New York, this egg showed up on the company’s Twitter feed. But what could possibly be in the egg? Apparently, it’s the 2019 Corolla iM.

At least, that’s the theory that makes the most sense. Toyota “hatches” a new hatchback in New York. We already know the company’s revealing the 2019 RAV4, and it appears they have another car up their sleeves. Originally sold in Europe and Asia as the “Auris”, the iM first came to the U.S. in 2015 under the now-defunct Scion brand. When the brand went away, the hatchback was folded under the familiar Corolla nameplate. It’s a similar story to the Mazda-based Scion iA living under the Yaris name.

2019 Toyota Corolla iM hatching in New York?
[Photo: Toyota]
Toyota revealed the Auris in Geneva earlier this month, so it appears the car’s now making its way to New York – egg disguise and all – to win favor with American car buyers. The car rides on Toyota’s new TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform and features an updated, more aggressive design. Particularly, Toyota’s given it a pronounced front end that’s synonymous with their other products, including the new Camry and Avalon.

In the U.S., Toyota only offers the current Corolla iM with a 137 horsepower, 1.8-liter engine making 126 lb-ft of torque. European and Asian versions use a hybrid powertrain, so it stands to reason we may see a similar setup in the new Corolla hatchback.

Stay tuned for more updates from the 2018 New York Auto Show! Subscribe to The Fast Lane Car and TFLnow on YouTube for more videos, including Toyota’s reveals.

2019 Toyota Corolla iM hatching in New York?
[Photo: Toyota]