GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Toyota tarts up Corolla

UPDATE: 9:45pm: Toyota Motor Europe has released more images of its facelifted Auris (sold in Australia as the Corolla hatchback), revealing new infotainment and air-conditioning systems, along with the new safety and comfort features confirmed earlier today. It's unclear what changes will be seen in Australia, but our version will at least bring the new headlights, grille and front bumper seen here on Europe's Auris hatch and wagon (not sold here). Toyota has confirmed Australia's upgraded Corolla hatch will bring a more efficient 1.8-litre petrol four, but Europe's 2015 Auris range will come with "a new petrol and diesel line-up, focusing on efficiency and performance”. A petrol-electric powertrain will continue to be available in Europe, where half of all sales were hybrids last year. Toyota will also use next week's Geneva show to unveil a facelifted version of its Avensis people-mover, which is built alongside the Auris in the UK but no longer sold here.

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Toyota has announced it will reveal a facelifted version of its most popular model at next week's Geneva motor show, starting March 3.

The mid-cycle update for the Japanese giant's top-selling Corolla hatch – the latest version of which arrived here in October 2012, followed by an all-new Corolla sedan in February 2014 – will come with fresh exterior and interior design elements.

Toyota says the 2015 Corolla hatch – known as the Auris in Europe – "adds stance and prestige, an upgraded cabin, and new comfort and safety equipment".

Toyota Australia has confirmed its version, which is due here "later this year" and will continue to be sourced from Japan, will bring improved efficiency from its 103kW 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.