The 2014 Toyota Corolla, the automaker's smallest sedan since the Yaris got the ax in 2012, is finally due for a makeover.
The four-door model has remained mostly the same since 2009, with a slight redesign in 2011 that changed some aesthetics of the vehicle.
But now the automaker is giving the sedan some new trappings to entice potential buyers, especially in regard to the all-important fuel efficiency.
The concept vehicle, the Furia, made its debut at the Detroit auto show in January and the automaker claims the production model will be sure to amaze.
"The Corolla Furia Concept is an early indicator of where our compact car design may lead in the future," said Bill Fay, vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division.
Fay also said that the car "will surprise a lot of people."
And with competition coming from cars like the Ford Focus, Mazda 3 and Chevy Cruze that have undergone styling transformations, the new Corolla plans to go head-to-head with these models with a redesign for the 2014 model year.
From spy photos that were posted by Car & Driver, it seems as though the next generation of the Corolla will take some styling cues from its larger Camry sibling.
And while the current model of the Corolla offers a 1.8-liter engine that produces 132 horsepower that is coupled with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, the next generation is expected to host a revamped powertrain featuring more power and more gears.
As far as fuel-efficiency, the current manual transmission model of the Corolla offers 27 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway.
But the 2014 Corolla is expected to reach higher for the model year with an estimated 40 mpg as the target.