THE new Toyota Corolla Altis is due in February. The 10th-generation Corolla is longer, wider and taller than the current car, and will be manufactured in Thailand.

Available with 1.6- and 1.8-litre engines that have dual VVT-i and quick-shift transmission, the car has got the go to fit its sleeker shape.

The car is expected to bolster sales at Toyota distributor Borneo Motors, which has been facing stiff competition from parallel importers and new versions of the Honda Civic and Mitsubishi Lancer.

Borneo will not get its Wish next month, as previously expected though. It is now expecting the car - which parallel importers have been selling like hotcakes for the last four years - in the first quarter of next year. Meanwhile, Toyota is expected to launch the new Wish in the fourth quarter of next year or early 2009.