Toyota Announces The Return Of The Celica
No, you’re not dreaming, this is really happening. In a recent announcement, Toyota confirmed during a recent event at Rally Japan, the return of the Celica with plans to reintroduce the model starting in 2027. This news comes after years of speculation and reflects Toyota’s commitment to bringing back some of its iconic sports cars. Discontinued back in 2006, the Celica is expected to feature more modern design elements and performance enhancements, better aligning it with more contemporary automotive standards, similar to the successful reintroduction of the Supra in 2019.
While specific details about the Celica’s design and powertrain are still under wraps, there is some speculation that we’ll get to a bit later on regarding the engine as well as some other features. Enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting any further announcements from Toyota, hopeful that more information or even a prototype might be unveiled soon, possibly at the 2025 Toyota Auto Salon. With all that said, let’s get into what we’ve heard and what we hope to see with the return of the Toyota Celica!
What We’ve Heard About The New Toyota Celica
Like we mentioned above, nothing is actually confirmed for what the Toyota Celica will actually feature as far as what its engine or powertrain will look like. But we have heard a few rumblings of what they could look like. It seems that the Celica will feature a 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces approximately 400 horsepower. It’s also anticipated that this engine and powertrain will be paired with an all-wheel drive system and a six-speed manual transmission, offering a more dynamic driving experience for its new owners.
It’s also been rumored that the new Celica might sport some aggressive styling appearances, like some aerodynamic enhancements and sporty aesthetics compared to the older Celicas. These upgrades would fit more in-line with Toyota’s Gazoo Racing branding. As far as price is concerned, it’s expected to be priced competitively in the sports car segment, making it an attractive option for performance enthusiasts looking for their next ride.
How The New Celica Fits Into Toyota’s Lineup
So, if the Celica does come with the above mentioned specs, that begs the question of where the Celica fits in compared with the rest of Toyota’s sports car segment. Would it directly compete with other models? Could it potentially replace one or more? Here’s how it might fit in and compete with their current performance models.
Celica vs GR86
The GR86 is more of a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive coupe that focuses more on affordability and handling. So if the new Celica is actually AWD with 400 HP, that would make it a higher-tier performance car. Following that logic, the Celica wouldn’t replace the GR86, but could be viewed as a step up for drivers wanting something with more power and grip.
Celica vs GR Corolla
The GR Corolla uses a 1.6L turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 300 HP and AWD. While pretty impressive, the new Celica’s rumored engine is more powerful than that. However, there is a world where these two can coexist. If Toyota wanted to keep the Corolla as the hot hatch option and the Celica as the sporty-coupe option, that could be a viable strategy.
Celica vs Supra
Now this one is where it gets interesting. The GR Supra features a 2.0L turbo-four (255 HP) or 3.0L turbo-inline-six (382 HP) engine option. If the Celica does come in at a 400 HP turbo-four like most think it will, then it could actually outpower the base Supra. This could lead to the Celica starting to cannibalize the base Supra’s market, which could lead to Toyota rethinking the lower-tier Supra’s future.
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