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 an another tale for another day. Live long and prosper, Toyota Celica!
In This Article...
What model of Celica was most recent?
Toyota started manufacturing the seventh-generation Celica in 2000. With the exception of the front bumper and rear spoiler, it was quite similar to the XYR concept. A component of Toyota Project Genesis, which aimed to attract younger customers to the brand in the United States, was the 2000 Celica.
At Calty Design Research, Inc. in Newport Beach, California, the new Celica was styled. The cab-forward design combined Indy-car design cues with a high-fashion appearance. In stark contrast to earlier models, this vehicle featured sharp-edged panels, dramatic plunging curves, a long tail, and a drastically reduced front fascia. The redesigned Celica has much shorter front and rear overhangs while having a greater wheelbase and shorter overall length.
The Toyota Celica was available in two trim levels: GT and GT-S. The GT was powered by a fuel-efficient 1.8 L 4-cylinder engine with 140 horsepower, while the GT-S featured a co-developed, higher-performance 1.8 L 4-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower. The VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence) system, which continually adjusts the camshaft timing, was present in both of these engines. The VVTL-i (Variable Valve Timing with Lift and Intelligence), a more aggressive system used in the GT-S, is similar to the VVT-i up until 6200 rpm, at which point the valve lift is abruptly increased to produce an increase in power that accounts for the 40 hp difference. Both a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic transmission were offered for the GT, and a close-ratio 6-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic transmission were offered for the GT-S.
Honda replaced the Integra with the Acura RSX in 2001, which went head-to-head with the Celica thanks to its 2.0 L 4-cylinder 200 horsepower engine. Toyota also made some modifications to the Celica GT-S in 2002, lowering the maximum revs from 8350 rpm on the original 7th generation to 7800 rpm. The Celica underwent a facelift in 2003, adding numerous new colors to the palette and getting a new front bumper and set of taillights. A drive-by-wire throttle body was now included in the GT-manual S’s transmission model. While reducing throttle response, throttle drive-by-wire compromises the use of an aftermarket ECU, which restricts tuning capability. Due to rising competition and weak sales, Toyota stated in July 2004 that the Celica and MR2 would no longer be sold in the United States at the end of the 2005 model year. On April 21, 2006, the final Celica rolled off the assembly line.
When was the last Celica produced?
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 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.
When did Toyota Celica stop being manufactured?
Toyota’s sporty two-door model, the Celica, was “After the 2005 model year, a youth car that has been sold for more than 30 years will be decommissioned. The 1971 Celica’s introduction had a significant impact on the development of the sporty subcompact market. It was recognized as the “Import Car of the Year” by Motor Trend, one of the “Ten Best Cars” by Car and Driver, and the “Most Reliable Sporty Car” by Consumer Reports during its tenure. The Celica, which was once seen as an edgy and youth-oriented automobile, generally adhered to its original intent of being created for customers who desired something “younger drivers who desired a little flair in their vehicle’s appearance and some spirit tied to the accelerator. Likewise, towards the conclusion of the 2005 model year, the two-seat MR2 is expected to be retired. The past few years had been extremely difficult for both the Celica and MR2, according to Don Esmond, senior vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division, in a market where Toyota continued to add other, more exciting and youthful products to the lineup, such as the Matrix and Corolla XRS, Solara sports coupe, and most recently the Scion xA, xB, and tC. Sales of the Celica fell about 50% from the previous year, reflecting its deteriorating circumstances. The Celica had fallen more than 33 percent short of its 2003 pace so far this year.