2008 Toyota Corolla

Senior Toyota execs were stunned when Honda pulled the covers off the COTY-winning Civic last year. The radical new Civic, particularly the sedan, was such a step forward from the staid-looking car it replaced they worried the next generation Corolla wouldn't be competitive. So they ordered a redesign. The result is shown here. the revamped 2008 corolla sedan is still a more conservative-looking car than the civic.

But insiders report Toyota has given the windshield and the backlight more rake than originally planned. it's a sleeker, less dumpy looking car than the current 330nmodel. the grille and badging shown here will appear on Japanese market cars, but U.S. versions will look fundamentally the same. The new corolla will go on sale next year, and Toyota will offer a version with a full hybrid power train.