The all-new Toyota Corolla XRS sport sedan made its world premiere at a press conference today at the 2003 Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) Show. The press conference also featured the unveiling of the Toyota Tundra racing V8 engine that will power the new Tundra race truck next year in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

The Corolla XRS will feature a newly tuned version of Toyota's 2ZZ dual overhead cam engine and six-speed manual transmission found in both the Celica GT-S and Corolla Matrix XRS. The increase in power will be complemented by improved ride and handling, thanks to a sport-tuned suspension and new steering improvements.

"With the popularity of the sporty Corolla S, the logical next step was to match its youthful styling with a performance-driven powertrain," said Don Esmond, Toyota Division senior vice president and general manager. "We expect the XRS to follow the course started by the S grade by appealing to younger customers, with an increase in single male buyers."

The new Corolla XRS will be powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder DOHC engine that produces 170 horsepower and 127 pounds of torque. The engine will deliver a broader and stronger mid-range torque than the previous versions of the 2ZZ engine. And, it will feature a VVTL-i variable valve timing and lift system that produces a supercharged-like rise in power from 6,000 to 7,800 RPM. The result is a compact sport sedan that blends sub-eight-second zero-to-sixty acceleration with exceptional throttle response throughout its broad power band.

Despite the increase in power, fuel economy is hardly compromised with initial estimates of 25 miles-per-gallon in the city and 32 on the highway.

The XRS features a sport-tuned suspension that includes a front connecting rod damper developed by Yamaha. The damper is mounted between the shock towers to produce improved ride and handling without compromising NVH. In addition to the performance damper, the XRS features increased rate coil springs and shocks on all four wheels for improved roll and pitch, and a ride height that is lower by a full half-inch.

The suspension stands on larger 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels and Michelin performance tires, an upgrade from the standard 15-inch wheels on all other Corolla grades. It is complemented by a steering system that features a more rigid steering column, producing less vibration and improved response. A power steering rack specially developed for the XRS allows for better steering feedback.

The improved performance of the Corolla XRS is accompanied by performance-themed convenience enhancements including sport seats, color-keyed bezel surrounding the grille, silver-colored center cluster and switch plates, a leather-like shift boot with a leather shift knob, and unique badging.

The Corolla XRS will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Canada (TMMC) in Cambridge, Ontario alongside the Matrix. It will reach dealerships on May 1st of next year. Annual sales of the XRS are projected at approximately 5,000 units.

The SEMA Show unveiling of the Tundra Racing V8 for the Toyota Tundra race truck represents one of the most critical steps in Toyota's journey to NASCAR's victory lane. It follows a historic press conference at the 2003 Chicago Auto Show where Toyota first rolled out a race-prepared Tundra pickup to formally announce its plans to begin participation in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

"Once we had our truck, the next phase in its development was to create an engine capable of achieving success in this competitive racing series," said Dave Illingworth, senior vice president, chief planning and administrative officer for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. (TRD).

The normally aspirated, Tundra Racing V8 engine was designed entirely in America by Toyota Racing Development. TRD's technical capabilities came to the forefront as they designed and produced "from a clean sheet of paper," an overhead valve racing engine in a remarkably short period of time. The engine design focused on high quality, performance, lightweight, reliability, and ease of manufacture.

Measuring 358 cubic inches of displacement, the V8 is capable of producing up to 650 horsepower. The cast aluminum cylinder head and cast iron cylinder block both use a computer-optimized cooling system. The engine is also equipped with forged aluminum pistons, forged steel connecting rods, and a high strength billet steel crankshaft. Its fuel pump and exhaust were each developed by TRD.

The engine's Craftsman Series debut will take place at historic Daytona International Speedway in February 2004 where it will be represented by at least six American-built Tundra race trucks.

Team affiliations will be determined soon. TRD will design, develop, and build the Craftsman Truck Tundra V8 to NASCAR specifications in its Costa Mesa, Calif., facility.

Toyota has been in the business of selling pickup trucks in this country for nearly 40 years. Since 1991 Toyota's compact pickups have been manufactured at its NUMMI plant in Fremont, California. Toyota has assembled the full-size Tundra pickup exclusively at its Princeton, Ind. plant since its debut in 1999. Toyota's commitment to building trucks continues to grow as witnessed by the recent groundbreaking of its newest truck plant in San Antonio, Texas.

"With Toyota's ongoing commitment to build American trucks for the American truck buyer it made sense to become involved with a true form of American racing," said Illingworth. "From an Americanization as well as a marketing perspective, choosing NASCAR was a no-brainer."

Toyota's entry into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series further extends the manufacturer's rich auto-racing history. Over the last 20 years, Toyota has won championships in a variety of high-level racing series including IRL, CART, IMSA, MTEG, SCORE, CORR, Pikes Peak, as well as NHRA import drag racing and various SCCA classes.

Since 2000, Toyota has competed in the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series. The V6-powered Toyota Celica's victory at Kentucky in 2001 was the first by an overhead-cam, multi-valve engine in NASCAR history. In the recently completed 2003 season Robert Huffman won his record-tying fifth Goody's Dash Series driver's championship and Toyota won its first NASCAR championship.