Patrons out there for a small, city-friendly Pickup might need an surprising possibility later within the 2020s: the Toyota Corolla. Whereas nothing is official, the Japanese model is reportedly contemplating releasing a Corolla with a cargo field that may be positioned beneath the Tacoma.

With out citing sources, trade commerce journal Automotive Information wrote that the mannequin “stays below dialogue.” If it receives the proverbial inexperienced gentle for manufacturing, it could land as a unibody pickup developed for light-duty hauling and towing, which means it could compete in the identical section as the Ford Maverick. Our crystal ball tells us it could have 4 doorways, a rugged-looking design, and first rate floor clearance.

It is too early to supply specs, largely as a result of we do not know what “Corolla-based” means. The present Corolla made its debut as a hatchback for the 2019 mannequin 12 months and as a sedan for 2020, so it’ll probably get a makeover within the coming years. Nevertheless, the newer Corolla Cross (pictured) illustrates a technique Toyota can steer the nameplate into a brand new territory whereas retaining the values it represents.

There isn’t any phrase but on when Toyota will resolve whether or not to show the Corolla right into a truck. If the mannequin is authorized, manufacturing may happen in the identical Blue Springs, Mississippi, manufacturing unit that at present builds the Corolla. The catch is that it will not arrive till 2027 on the earliest.

Whereas we affiliate Toyota vans with rugged, body-on-frame fashions like the Tacoma and the Tundra, the thought of a small, car-based pickup is not unprecedented. The second and third generations of the Corona (a mannequin positioned above the Corolla) spawned pickups aimed largely at industrial consumers. In a manner, they had been Japan’s equal to the Chevrolet El Camino and the Ford Ranchero. Proven above, the third-generation automotive was provided with two or 4 seats, powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, and will carry as much as 1,100 kilos.