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...
Is a 2022 Celica available?
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.
Toyota discontinued the Celica for what reason?
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.
The base model of the second generation Celica featured a 2.2L engine and was offered as a coupe and a liftback with a “B pillar. It was first introduced in 1978.
The base engine for the third generation of Celicas is a 2.4L engine, and fuel injection became standard on all North American Celicas in 1982. This generation of Celicas was released in 1981 and was once again offered as a coupe or liftback, with many drivers opting for the liftback. There was also a convertible model that was released in 1984.
Toyota announced that production of the Celica would be discontinued in the U.S. in 2004 due to low sales. The 7th and final generation of Toyota Celicas, which were sold from 1999 to 2006, were coupes that were lighter in weight and more affordable than other model years and had power locks and windows located in the center console.
Long live the Toyota Celica! Eventually, the Celica evolved into the Celica Supra, and then became the Supra alone, but that is a different story for another day.
Does Toyota still produce the Celica?
The striking Toyota XYR concept car debuted at the 1999 Detroit Auto Show provided more than just a passing nod to the upcoming seventh-generation Celica’s styling. In retrospect, we can see that it was essentially identical to the real version, which made its premiere in September 1999, just before Toyota revealed it had created its 100 millionth car.
The third-generation MR2’s project manager, Tadashi Nakagawa, again oversaw this one, and it followed a similar engineering path of reduced weights, more compact and lightweight components, and razor-sharp handling. It introduced two brand-new, jointly designed 1.8-liter engines with Yamaha, including one with variable valve timing (VVT-i) and another with a second, high-lift camshaft lobe that activated at higher revs (VVTL-i). Only a few number of engines, including the latter one, were capable of producing more than 100 horsepower per liter.
There was only one coup body type available, unlike previous Celica models, and it was never designed to develop into a convertible or a four-wheel-drive model. The development team was able to concentrate on making the body construction as light as possible for this specific use thanks to the clearer focus, while smaller displacement engines provided the option to install a smaller fuel tank. A car with a shorter body and a longer wheelbase was the end result, weighing in at just 1,090kg in base trim.
Sales in Europe started in November 1999 with the 140 horsepower 1ZZ-FE engine; nearly a year later, the 189 bhp 2ZZ-GE engine, dubbed the Celica 190, entered the lineup. After a new flagship T Sport model with distinctive alloy wheels and larger front brakes was introduced in August 2001, this vehicle was gradually phased out of the UK lineup.
A midlife makeover arrived a few years into the production period, as is customary for Toyota, this time in time for the 2003 model year. Britain acquired the revised model at the same time as Japan and the US thanks to careful management of the stock of run-out vehicles. There was no ignoring the fact that sports cars were losing popularity globally, despite strong sales helping Toyota to its 10th consecutive year of record UK sales.
Toyota was forced to end production of the Celica in the US in the summer of 2004 as a result of this effort. Sales in the UK continued to grow moderately, helped by the appeal of a special edition GT model with reduced suspension, an unexpectedly wild aero kit, and specialized 17-inch alloy wheels. However, the announcement of strict new emissions requirements in January 2006 sounded the death knell for the Celica because doing so would be simply unprofitable. In April 2006, Japan’s official end of production was announced.
The production of the Celica reached epic heights, totaling 4,129,626 units, from its debut in December 1970 until more than 35 years after it made its final appearance.
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.
What was the Celica’s replacement at Toyota?
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.
The Celica was supplanted 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…
How durable are Toyota Celicas?
If you don’t misuse it, a properly kept Celica can travel between 250.000 and 300.000 miles. You can anticipate the automobile to last you 16 to 20 years if you drive an average of 15,000 miles annually, which is the typical for American drivers.
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.