It would be foolish for the division to rest on its laurels now that Toyota’s Gazoo Racing (GR) performance branch is firmly established.
Then there is the Celica, a reasonably priced coupe that went through seven incarnations from 1970 to 2006 and soon gained a reputation for offering a lot of enthusiast appeal at a reasonable price.
Similar to the final-generation Celica, Theophilus Chin’s reimagined 2022 Celica is built on a borrowed Corolla platform, which isn’t the most interesting foundation but offers plenty of room for customization as a member of Toyota’s modular TNGA chassis family.
This adaptability makes a variety of powerplant alternatives possible. Again, going back in time, there is space for engines from both the Corolla and the Camry, resulting in base engine tuning of at least 125kW and 152kW from the 2.0-liter and 2.5-litre engines of the source cars, respectively.
The 2.5-liter engine would make a fantastic base model for Australia, with the 2.5-liter hybrid Camry serving as the “flagship” model, tuned to produce at least 170kW with, hopefully, development room to pair it with a manual and conventional automatic, as opposed to the Camry’s less-exciting 160kW with a CVT.
Our eighth-generation Celica carries on from where the angular seventh-gen car left off rather than ripping up the rulebook and starting from scratch. Similar low profile, with an improvement over the previous triangular headlight.
Although the body is still a liftback design, it is now more horizontal in nature like those found on Toyota’s popular models.
The front bumper intake makes a connection to the present Corolla, but the thin slit grille calls to mind the previous Celica.
Even while the vehicle is still, the inflated wheel arches, wider front and rear tracks, vented front guards, rising bodyside feature lines, and sill panels give the appearance of motion.
With LED lighting and bumper garnishes in the shape of vents, the rear of the car is highlighted by a tail-light panel that wraps around the corners like a strut brace, emphasizing the forward-motion design.
We’d want to see the maximum output 220kW engine from the GR Corolla combined with the 390Nm output from the GRMN Yaris because the outputs for the GR Celica can only be range-topping. Similarly, ‘circuit’ suspension, forged alloy wheels, and Torsen limited slip differentials front and back are non-negotiable.
The GR-exclusive stepped central air intake, the larger vents behind the front wheels, the GR Corolla’s trio of functional exhaust tips, the ST205 GT-Four-inspired bonnet scoop, and, of course, GR’s distinctive Frosted White paint were all exterior features we simply had to have.
Sadly, there are currently no signs that Toyota will produce a new Celica; instead, the firm seems pleased with the GR86 and GR Supra. We can fantasize.
In This Article...
The Toyota Celica was discontinued, why?
Toyota has produced a lot of intriguing cars over the years. Toyota has always focused on efficiency, usability, and affordability, from the Prius to the RAV4. Looking back at earlier Toyota models to see how far the company has advanced in terms of design and quality is also enjoyable.
The Toyota Celica is one of the more well-known Toyota models that is no longer in production. We wonder what happened to the Toyota Celica because it seemed like everyone knew someone who owned one. Despite the fact that manufacture was only stopped in 2006, there aren’t as many of them on the roads nowadays. Sure, there are a few here and there, but it begs the question as to why many more didn’t utilize this sporty yet efficient vehicle.
A quick overview of the Toyota Celica’s history is necessary to comprehend what transpired with the vehicle. The car was produced from 1970 to 2006, but the drivetrain’s move from rear- to front-wheel drive in 1985 was the biggest shift.
The original Celica came in three trim levels: LT, ST, and GT, and was a hardtop coupe. The GTV trim level was also available; it was released in 1972, handled a little better, but had a less opulent interior. A 1.6L or a 2L engine was standard on the Celica.
When the second-generation Celica was introduced in 1978, it was offered as a coupe and a liftback with a “B pillar. 2.2L engine provided power to the base model Celica of the second generation.
When the third generation of Celicas was introduced in 1981, buyers once again had a choice between a coupe and a liftback. In 1984, a convertible version was also released. This generation of Celicas comes standard with a 2.4L engine. In 1982, all Celicas sold in North America were required to have fuel injection.
Toyota Celicas of the seventh and last generation, which were coupes, were sold from 1999 to 2006. Power locks and windows were installed in the center console, and the car was lighter and more cheap than prior model years. In its base model, it had a 1.8L engine that generated 140 horsepower. Due to poor sales, Toyota declared that it would stop manufacturing the Celica in the United States in 2004.
The Celica eventually evolved into the Celica Supra, then into just the Supra, but that is a another tale for another day. Live long and prosper, Toyota Celica!
Will the GR86 replace the Celica?
There are plenty aspiring automobile designers out there that have a basic understanding of computer rendering and produce predictable concepts with no realistic chance of materializing, regardless of final design. There is nothing wrong with dreaming, but the market for affordable RWD and FWD coupes is both nearly dead. Who is it intended for? How does it avoid duplicating a current product? Toyota declined to utilize the moniker Celica, which could have been used to either the GR86 or the 2.0 Supra. It makes sense because, even more than 15 years ago, when numerous manufactures offered FWD coupes, they were durable but unimpressive FWD coupes for a considerable amount of time until they perished. The Supra name was utilized again because it is valuable, thanks in large part to a laughably idiotic “car” movie and the diseased nostalgia-seeking eye (in their day, they were routinely near the lower end of performance shootouts with their contemporaries, all of which are worth a lot less money today).
What took Celica’s place?
In January 1980, Toyota introduced the four-door Celica Camry to the Japanese market. This vehicle was essentially a 19771981 Toyota Carina (A40 and A50) from the second generation with a front end that was extended to match the 19781981 Celica XX, also known as the Celica Supra in export markets. This Carina-derived Celica is a four-door sedan as opposed to a coupe or liftback, unlike other Celicas. When the front-wheel-drive Toyota Camry (V10) model was introduced in 1982, Toyota replaced the Celica Camry.
Was the Celica replaced by the Supra?
It takes 40 years to the latter half of the 20th century to trace the history of the Toyota Supra, an iconic model that bears what is undoubtedly Toyota’s most well-known sports car badge.
The Supra name, chosen as a new suffix designation for a longer, broader, and more potent spin-off of the second-generation Celica coup, was first introduced by Toyota in April 1978. (above). The model’s A40 chassis code served as an additional means of identification.
The new A40 Celica Supra (known as Celica XX in its domestic market) replaced the Celica’s four-cylinder engine range with a silky smooth six-cylinder engine that offered a more opulent character in an effort to compete in the popular grand tourer market in Japanese and North American markets at the time, which was almost entirely dominated by Datsun’s Z-cars. So the story of the Toyota Supra began…
Toyota Celicas aren’t common.
Toyota’s Celica was a crucial sports vehicle. As a rival to vehicles like the Ford Mustang on the global market, the Japanese manufacturer launched the Celica on the market. They even debuted the vehicle in the WRC, where they often prevailed. Before it was withdrawn, Toyota had released seven models of the Celica on the market. The 2-door sports car is currently quite uncommon and is undoubtedly a vehicle that a fanatic would adore having in his or her garage. We previously highlighted a six generation Toyota Celica that was for sale, and this week we have a seventh generation Toyota Celica sports vehicle that is for sale on the used auto market.
Actually, a vendor from Kalol, Gujarat, published the advertisement for this Toyota Celica. The vehicle in this image is a silver seventh and last generation Toyota Celica. The Toyota Celica boasts a modern appearance that prevents it from seeming antiquated even now. It appears from the pictures that the automobile has been well-maintained by its present owner. The car doesn’t have any significant dings or scrapes. The Toyota Celica’s production began in 1999, and the sports vehicle featured in this advertisement is a 2001 model.
What should I look for in a used Toyota Celica coupe?
The only thing you really need to consider when buying a Celica is the appropriate color and trim combo. The business consistently places highly in our reliability polls, and the Celica frequently receives favorable ratings from JD Power surveys, where it was named the best coupe in 2006 and ranked in the top 20 overall in 2005.
Warranty Direct claims that while Celica issues are uncommon, the suspension accounts for 50% of them. Another third is attributable to the engine. Other than that, the only issues we’ve heard of are the tailgate struts collapsing and brake discs rotting on cars that don’t receive much use.
What does a 2022 Toyota Celica cost?
One of the few remaining reasonably priced sports cars with rear-wheel drive on the market, the 2022 Toyota GR86, which succeeds the previous-generation 86, increases horsepower, torque, more aggressive styling, and cutting-edge safety systems. And despite all of those improvements, the 2022 GR86’s starting price for the six-speed manual version will only be $28,725 (all prices include destination). The 86 skipped 2021, so that’s only $670 more than the base 2020 model with a manual.
Did the Celica give birth to the Supra?
Beginning in 1978, the Toyota Motor Corporation produced the Toyota Supra, also known as the Toyota Spura in Japanese and Hepburn. The Latin prefix supra, which means “above,” “to transcend,” or “go beyond,” is the source of the name “supra.” [3]
The first four Supra models were built between 1978 and 2002. Since March 2019, the fifth generation has been produced, and it debuted in May 2019. [4] The original Supra’s style was based on the Toyota Celica, but it was also wider and longer. [5] Beginning in the middle of 1986, the A70 Supra split off from the Celica as a standalone model. Toyota, in turn, discontinued using the prefix Celica and changed the name of the vehicle to Supra. [6] Due to their names’ resemblance and shared history, the Celica and Supra are commonly confused with one another. The Tahara facility in Tahara, Aichi, produced the first, second, and third generations of the Supra, while the Motomachi plant in Toyota City produced the fourth. In Graz, Austria, Magna Steyr assembles the fifth-generation Supra alongside the G29 BMW Z4.
Due to an inline-6 architecture, the Supra also owes a lot of its DNA to the 2000GT. The M engine from the Crown and 2000GT was made available for the first three generations. Additionally comparable were interior design features and the chassis code “A”.
Toyota gave the Supra its own logo in addition to the moniker. It was based on the original Celica logo, except that blue was used in place of orange. Before the A70 Supra was unveiled in January 1986, this logo was in use. The new logo was the same size, but it did not have the dragon motif. It had orange letters on a red background. Up until 1991, when Toyota moved to its current oval business emblem, that logo was affixed to Supras. (Regardless of color, the dragon logo was a Celica logo. Due to the fact that the first two generations of the Supra were legally Toyota Celicas, it was present on them. The Celica line had a dragon logo until it was likewise retired.) [Reference needed]
Toyota stopped selling the fourth-generation Supra in the United States in 1998.
[6] The fourth generation of the Supra’s production for international markets came to an end in 2002.
The fifth version of the Supra, which was jointly developed with the G29 Z4, was released in January 2019.
[7]