Toyota Exec Confirms New Celica is Underway
The rumours were true: Toyota is indeed working on a new Celica. Will it come to North America? Now that’s another story.
As reported by various media outlets including Japan’s Best Car Web, Executive VP and Chief Technology Officer Hiroki Nakajima boldly and unequivocally stated at a rally event this past weekend: “We're making the Celica!”
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For well over a year and especially in the past few weeks, Toyota has dropped a number of clues about the return of the Celica. One came in a recent episode of the automaker’s self-published anime, called Grip (which also hinted at a sixth-generation Supra and a new MR2, among other things).
No official details about the future Toyota Celica are available at the moment, but the car is likely to be an expansion of the GR (Gazoo Racing) lineup. It’s also expected to stand out from the conventionally powered GR86 and GR Supra with an electrified powertrain. In fact, the FT-Se Concept (above) that was introduced at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show could serve as a preview—unless it’s for a revived MR2.
Best Car Web has its own take on a new Celica design, using inspiration from Toyota’s latest products as illustrated by the following rendering:
Initially launched in 1970, the Toyota Celica gained the most fame during the 1990s after securing World Rally Championship titles. However, the final generation (2000-2005) was a much different car with reduced weight and a selection of naturally aspirated 1.8-litre four-cylinder engines. The base GT model delivered 140 horsepower, while the sportier GT-S packed 180 horsepower.