LA MOTOR SHOW: Scion pimps Corolla

Is Toyota planning to revive the Corolla Sportivo hot hatch, or is it merely warming up the US market to release the Corolla five-door?

They're valid questions following the reveal of this tarted up Corolla hatch concept from Toyota's US youth brand Scion and the almost simultaneous appearance of the first spy shots of a midlife makeover for Europe's Auris hatch.

Toyota Australia hasn't offered a 'hot' hatch in almost a decade, after the February 2005 axing of the previous Corolla Sportivo, which matched a 141kW/180Nm 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a six-speed manual transmission and sports bodykit.

Both the latest Corolla hatch (released in Australia in October 2012) and latest Corolla sedan (February this year) continue to offer just 103kW/173Nm in six-speed manual and CVT guises.

But if it was to reintroduce a hotter Corolla to compete with warm hatches like the Holden Cruze SRi-V, Mazda3 SP25, Hyundai i30 SR and Nissan Pulsar SSS, the release of a facelifted model would be the most likely time.

Such a vehicle emerged this week in the form of an upgraded Auris, Europe's version of the Corolla hatch, featuring revised front and rear styling, but no changes to sheetmetal.

Our sources say engines will remain unchanged, with exterior updates limited to the headlights, tail-lights, grille and bumpers, and the interior bringing a revised dashboard and new fabrics and colours.

It's unclear when the Japanese – and therefore Australian – version of the new-look Corolla hatch will be released, or how much later the Corolla sedan will receive its midlife facelift.

But the upgraded Auris is expected to debut at either the Geneva or Frankfurt shows in March and September 2015 respectively, meaning we should see an upgraded Corolla hatch here within about 12 months.

Clearly, the Scion's iM concept – first images of which have been released ahead of its world debut at the Los Angeles motor show next week (November 19) – is something different.

No engine details have been revealed thus far, but although the edgy five-door show car is obviously based on the Corolla hatch, which is not currently sold in the US, it wears all-new bodywork.

That includes heavily flared wheel-arches and a muscular bonnet, plus deep side skirts and an aggressive front bumper with a huge lower air intake and gigantic outboard fog lights.

Also obligatory on the show car are the space-age wing mirrors, bigger brakes, low ride height, low-profile rubber and massive alloys – in this case 19-inch multi-spoke forged rims that are bigger and wider than even the oversized wheels/tyres on the Auris spied in Europe.

Unlike the Scion, the facelifted Auris receives no new sheetmetal, so if the iM concept has any relevance at all, it's a signal that Toyota intends to release the Corolla hatch in the US as a Scion, and that it could bring bespoke bodywork and more performance.

So far, Scion says only that the 'Incrediblue' iM concept "is a five-door compact hatchback with sporty looks inspired by those seen on the European touring car racing circuit".

"The tastes of today's younger buyers have evolved. They want a car that provides excitement and individuality, as well as the comfort, technology and reliability that Scion offers," said Scion Vice-President, Doug Murtha.

"The iM Concept combines sleek styling with the versatility of a modern hatchback to catch the eye of Scion customers. Stay tuned for more on how we will bring this vision to the road."