Pakistan Assembled Corolla (Part 1 – E100)

Toyota has been assembling cars in Pakistan for close to twenty two years now, so far they have rolled out 4 generations of corolla in the last two decades skipping the eighth generation (EE110). This is part one of the series where I'll share the details of first generation Pakistan assembled corolla.

Seventh Generation E100 (1993 – 2002 in Pakistan)

XE (1993 – 2002) – Initially when Toyota started their assembly plant in Pakistan in 1993 (December 1992) they offered XE without power steering powered by a 1.3 liter carburetor engine, it was the base model with only Air conditioner, black bumpers, grey garnish, no side moldings were available. Later in 1994 power steering was also offered, the steering wheel was a two spoke steering which was replaced by a three spoke steering wheel much later in 1998.



GL (1993 – 2000) – This was the Power Packed engine powered by the same engine; GL had a three spoke power steering (replaced by four spoke steering wheel in 1998) along with power windows, power mirrors, fabric Seats, colored garnish, rpm meter and black door pillars with chrome borders.

1.6 GLi (1994 – 2002) – In third quarter of 1994 Toyota launched their first Electronic fuel injection car powered with a 1.6 Liter EFi engine; this car was a dream car among the young and restless as it used to go upto 170km / hr without any modifications which was a big thing at that time. 1.6 GLi was basically same as GL but the difference was of its engine and a better sound system with 4 speakers, in 1998 1.6 GLi started coming with a four spoke steering wheel having SRS Airbag of steering wheel.



1.6 GLi Limited (1994 – 1997) – Along with the regular 1.6 GLi there was another 1.6 GLi Limited offered only in black color and the difference between regular 1.6 GLi and 1.6 GLi Limited was that it had wooden dashboard paneling, golden vinyl tape on both sides, golden emblems of Toyota and golden emblem of Limited on both rear doors below the molding.

2.0D (1996 – 2008) – 1990s was the decade of diesel engines, diesel was then cheaper thus in big demand, in 1996 Toyota realized the importance and demand of this and thus the famous “2D” was born in March 1996. 2.0D was powered by a 2 liter diesel engine and 2.0D was just like its petrol counterpart XE, which was very basic with a 2 spoke steering wheel which was later in 1998 replaced by a three spoke steering wheel.



2.0DG & XEG (1996 – 2000) – Somewhere in the middle of 1996 Toyota added two more variants to their existing line up by adding a G to the existing line. These variants had matching bumpers, fabric seats and metallic colors that were previously only offered in GL and 1.6 GLi variants.

2.0D Limited (1997 – 2008) – By the third quarter of 1997 2.0D variant of corolla was so popular that they decided to introduce a full power packed version in diesel as well, it was then decided that 2.0D Limited will be offered with all the features of 1.6 GLi Limited except for RPM meter & black door pillars. 2.0D was also offered with the same 2 liter diesel engine.

1.6 GLi Auto (1998 – 2002) – First quarter of 1998 was a time when it had been two years since Honda rolled out their first automatic transmission car and the potential and requirement for automatic transmission cars was growing day by day, it was then decided by Toyota Indus that automatic transmission should be offered in the 1.6 Liter GLi, around third quarter of same year 1.6 GLi Auto started coming with four spoke steering wheel having SRS airbag.



Special Edition (1999 – 2002) – I still remember the first time I saw a 1.6 GLi Special Edition, what a car it was, that was a feature pack car for its time with grey leather seats, SRS airbag in a four spoke steering wheel, six CD changer in the trunk and 14 inch alloy rims along with Dunlop tires. It was the fanciest corolla being offered locally and the Special Edition tag was available in both variants of 1.6 GLi along with 2.0D

Limited Edition (2001 – 2002) – In 2001 Toyota Indus decided to reduce their lineup and the shape change was around the corner after producing E100 for almost a decade, if few models were discontinued then few more were added in the lineup, at that time a limited variant was offered in all three engines namely XE Limited Edition (replacing GL with same engine), 1.6 GLi Limited Edition (Auto also available) and 2.0D Limited Edition. The limited variants were offered with optional sunroof as well for the first time in Pakistan.

Makeovers

During the decade that E100 was available in Pakistani market the car faced two major facelifts which gave the car a total of three faces in its life. The one initially offered was with regular headlights and yellow lens indicator lights in the rear which ran throughout the garnish to the other side, the reverse light was in the bottom center of each tail light. The car faced its first facelift in 1995 when a chrome front grill was added and rear lights were transformed with clear lens indicator lights, reverse light was shifted next to the indicator light towards the boot and Garnish had approx. five inches of red & white next to the light while rest was dark maroon. The final facelift was done in 1999 when the front lights were replaced with clear lens lights (aka crystal lights), the parking lights were shifted in the bumper where once was the indicator light & indicator lights were shifted right next to the headlight on the corners. In the taillights white and red both portions were given equal size (previously red was 50% then a black strip after which white portion was 45%) and the garnish was a complete red to match the taillight after leaving same white portion as before.



Colors

There were a number of colors offered in E100 corolla during its time; followings are the ones I can remember at the moment. The list is of the years when certain colors were added

1993 – Ash Grey, Pakistan Green, Dark Blue, Maroon, White

1994 – Black

1995 – Silver, Metallic Maroon

1996 – Teal, Gun Metallic, Aqua, Light Golden, Red non-metallic (in XE & 2.0D only)

1998 – Lavender, Dark Maroon, Bottle Green, Sky Blue

I remember the first time Indus was displayed, I went to Marriott Islamabad in December 1992; I was 10 yr old and accompanied by my father. It was a maroon GL on display outside the hotel. Those sales person wearing black suits with white shirts in that sunny day; the whole deal was very impressive and the car had its own charm which hasn't faded with time. In the history of Pakistan E100 is a very iconic car and it will always be loved and remembered as Indus corolla.

OA