Toyota's electric Corolla Cross caught testing for the first time

Toyota's long-promised electric Corolla just showed its face — sort of. A disguised Corolla Cross EV was spotted driving near Toyota's European headquarters and R&D center, marking the first time the all-electric version has been caught in public. Images from Chinese outlet Autohome show a closed-off grille and a body that looks nothing like the Corolla you know.

The timing fits. The next-gen Corolla is expected to debut sometime in 2027, with the EV sitting at the center of Toyota's biggest makeover of the nameplate in its 60-year history. Toyota CEO Koji Sato has framed it simply: the Corolla stays "a car for everyone," but this time it comes in multiple powertrains — battery EV, plug-in hybrid, hybrid and internal combustion.

That mix rides on Toyota's new "multipathway" platform, the first to support electric, hybrid and gas setups under one roof. Toyota is staying quiet on battery and powertrain specs, though the EV is expected to come in single- and dual-motor configurations with at least 250 miles of range. The hybrid reportedly gets a new 1.5-liter four-cylinder paired with an electric motor, good for around 134 horsepower and 10% to 20% better efficiency than today's Corolla, according to Car and Driver.

There's history riding on this. More than 57 million drivers have bought a Corolla since it went on sale 60 years ago, and it's gone through 12 model changes since 1966 — but newer, sharper rivals have dulled its edge. Chairman Akio Toyoda didn't mince words in a July NHK interview, warning the company "cannot survive" without adapting to competition and technology coming out of China. That same special teased blurred Corolla Concept body styles: sedan, hatchback, crossover and a GR model.

Production plans point east. According to a recent Nikkei report, Toyota aims to start building the next-gen Corolla in 2028 through FAW Toyota Motor, its joint venture with Chinese state-owned FAW Group. Pricing is still guesswork, but Car and Driver estimates the gas version around $25,000, the hybrid near $27,000, and the EV and PHEV landing in the $30,000 range.

One big question remains: will Americans get the electric one? Toyota hasn't confirmed a US launch for the EV. Until then, the camouflage stays on.