Toyota’s Bestselling Vehicle of All Time is Prepping for a Last Hurrah

It’s the beginning of the end for this generation of Corolla as the nameplate celebrates 60 years.

Front view of a black Toyota Corolla Altis with LED headlights and bronze trim accents.

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Published May 8, 2026

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The end of the Toyota Corolla is near. Well, not exactly. But at least for the current 12th-gen model, which is coming to the end of its series production lifecycle.

The current Corolla has been with us since 2018. To start paving the way for the highly-anticipated 13th-gen model in the coming months, Toyota quietly started rolling out some special commemorative versions.

And, as per usual when it comes to some of these global models, we can’t have them. At least, these specific celebratory variants.

A pretty subtle 60th anniversary celebration

White Toyota Corolla hatchback with black wheels driving on a winding road with guardrails. — The Taiwanese market is getting a special 60th Anniversary of the Corolla hatch, which they call the Sport.

In addition to the current generation of Corolla reaching the end of the line, Toyota is also commemorating the nameplate’s 60th anniversary.

To kill two birds with one stone, the Big T just revealed some special anniversary editions for Taiwan and other South Pacific regions.

They’re obviously called the 60th Anniversary Editions, and they’re based on a unique, South Asian market-specific version of the Corolla called the Altis. (Along with the Corolla Cross and the Corolla hatchback, which Toyota markets as the Corolla Sport in Taiwan.)

Black and silver multi-spoke Toyota alloy wheel on a black car. — The 60th Anniversary Editions come spruced up with some subtle upgrades to celebrate the Corolla’s birthday.

The 60th Anniversary editions come with subtle appointment upgrades both inside and out. Such includes fancier exterior trim bits done up in a bronze gold finish with matching parts on the interior.

Toyota also festoons the interior and exterior with small, gold 60th Anniversary badges on the front fenders. Bespoke two-tone 17-inch aluminum wheels complement the exterior.

Front view of a black Toyota Corolla Altis HEV with gold trim accents around the grille and headlights. — The sedan variant is based off the Corolla Altis, an upscale version of the model built specifically for the South Pacific region.

The 60th Anniversary treatments also extend to the Corolla Cross and Corolla Sport hatchback.

In Taiwan, where even the most minute details can represent wealth and status, these minor appointments make for a more upscale appearance.

What the heck is a Corolla Altis?

Black Toyota Corolla Altis sedan with bronze trim accents and black alloy wheels in a modern showroom. — Toyota’s keeping it lowkey for such a momentous occasions.

In essence, the Corolla Altis is a fancier “premium” version of the Corolla. It features more standard equipment, nicer and plusher interior appointments, and more powerful standard engines than the regular, plain Jane Corolla.

In markets like Taiwan and Thailand, Toyota Corollas don’t come as jampacked with standard equipment like they do in America. They’re more basically equipped to align with the area’s economies.

Black leather interior of a Toyota car with a digital dashboard, touchscreen display, and automatic gear shift. — Introduced in 2018, the current Toyota Corolla is standing up well to the test of time.

Corolla Altis models are basically models that are similar to the standard ones we get in the States. They come with matching levels of equipment, like Toyota’s Safety Sense suite, leather trim bits and upholstery, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Will America get to celebrate the Corolla’s 60th?

White Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid SUV parked on grass with a family sitting and smiling in front. — The celebration also includes the Corolla Cross.

Rumor has it that Toyota is also working on some special edition models for the same reasons in Japan and other Asian markets. But whether America or Europe will also get some commemorative models has yet to be determined.

So, these 60th models will remain forbidden fruit for the time being. Otherwise, the world’s anticipating a new thirteenth-generation Corolla in the coming months.

White Toyota Corolla hatchback with black alloy wheels and tinted windows in a modern setting. — Whether America or Europe will see commemorative versions has yet to be seen.

Although not much is known. Toyota teased the next-gen Corolla sedan’s exterior aesthetic at the annual Japan Mobility Show in 2025.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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