14th March, 2001 Covers come off turbo Corolla & sporty Echo Sportivo, an all-new sporting brand, has been launched by Toyota Australia with the unveiling of two purpose-built sporty small cars. The new models are the 1.5 litre Echo hatchback and the first turbocharged Corolla, both offering increased performance, safety and comfort, coupled with unique exterior and interior features. Corolla enters the world of grunt It has a recommended retail price of $37,990. The addition of a turbocharger makes Corolla Sportivo the most powerful Corolla ever sold in Australia, punching out 115kW of power at 5600rpm and 237Nm of torque at 3600rpm from its turbocharged 1.8 litre Twin Cam Multi-valve engine. Corolla Sportivo’s driveline and brakes have been strengthened to complement its increased performance.
Corolla Sportivo has dual SRS airbag and ABS anti-skid brakes as standard equipment, plus a unique full-width front spoiler, side skirts and risers for the rear spoiler.
And the sporting Echo
Prices start from $19,990 for the three-door model. Echo Sportivo’s VVTi-equipped engine delivers 80kW of power at 6000rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4200rpm. Echo Sportivo is highly specified inside and out. It has sports front seats, CD/tuner with four speakers, leather steering wheel with metallic finish on the spokes, leather and chrome gearshift knob, grey metallic finish on the door handles and heater controls, carbon-fibre look switch plates, metallic scuff plates on the door sills and a driver’s left foot rest. Power functions include remote central locking, front power windows and power mirrors. Exterior features include sports front and rear bumpers, a sports mesh radiator grille, front foglamps, blackout headlamps surrounds, a chrome tailpipe extension and 14-inch alloy wheels.
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Turbocharged Corolla Sportivo is a limited edition
Corolla liftback. Only 100 will be built for sale in Australia, all with manual
transmission and Aztec Gold (metallic gold) paint. 
Chassis developments include revised spring rates,
low-profile 195/50 R15 Bridgestone tyres and "Corsica" 15-inch alloy wheels. 
Five-speed manual transmission and power steering are standard. 