Toyota Corolla 11th generation (E160/E170)

The 11th generation was made a Japan-only model and focused on building the best Corolla for Japanese customers. Sharing the Aqua's hybrid unit allowed a hybrid to be added without compromising the cargo space, and visibility and controls could be tuned to suit Japanese body sizes.

Hearing that the tenth generation was a good car but lacked excitement, Yasui thought of lengthening the wheelbase by 100 mm on the overseas versions of the 11th generation. It was just when the Lehman shock hit, and the company's policy was to hold down investment. Lengthening it meant major changes to production lines at 16 plants around the world. Even so, he went around persuading people that if it improved the styling and enlarged the cabin, it had to be done now.