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...
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 would it be 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).
The most recent Toyota Celica is what year?
Toyota produced the Celica (/slk/ or /slik/), also known as the Toyota Serika in Japanese, from 1970 until 2006. The Latin word coelica, which means “heavenly” or “celestial,” is the source of the name Celica. [3] The Toyota Corolla Store dealerchain was the only one selling the Celica in Japan.
The Celica was built over the course of seven generations and offered in convertible, liftback, coup, and notchback coupling bodystyles. It was also powered by several four-cylinder engines.
Toyota first used the term “Liftback” to designate the Celica fastback/hatchback in 1973, and for the North American market, they used the name “Liftback GT.”
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Similar to the Ford Mustang, the Toyota Celica was designed with the intention of turning a high-volume sedan, in this case the Toyota Carina, into a sports vehicle by adding a coupe body to its chassis and drivetrain.
[7] Due to various mechanical components that were shared, some media believed it was modeled on the Corona. [6]
Toyota’s R series engine was used to power the first three generations of Celicas sold in North America. All-wheel drive turbocharged variants were available from 1986 to 1999. The car’s drive configuration was modified from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive in August 1985. Beginning in December 1997, some Japanese models began to use variable valve timing, and starting with the 2000 model year, all vehicles had this feature as standard. The six-cylinder Celica Supra variant was separated off as a new vehicle in 1986 and became known simply as the Supra. In the 1980s and 1990s, slightly modified versions of the Celica were also offered for sale as the Toyota Curren through the Vista dealer network and the Corona Coup through the Toyotapet dealer network.
Motor Trend’s Car of the Year (Imported Vehicle) award was given to the Toyota Celica Liftback GT in 1976.
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 took Celica’s place?
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!
Why was the Toyota Celica discontinued?
Occidental Slope Toyota reflects on the past of the Celica by going back in time. The Celica was a hardtop coupe when it was initially manufactured in 1970. However, Toyota introduced coupe and liftback variations of the vehicle in the second generation.
The first Celica convertible debuted in 1984, and the seventh generation Celica, which debuted in 1999 and was once again a coupe, would be the model’s last iteration.
Toyota declared in 2004 that it will stop producing the Celica because to poor sales, and it did so in 2006. The Celica Supra continues the history of the original Celica and eventually evolved into a separate Toyota model that is being manufactured today.
Does the Celica Supra exist?
The A60 Celica XX, which debuted in Japan in July 1981, marked the next development in the Toyota Supra’s history. This new model, which was built on the slick, third-generation Celica platform and emphasized athletic prowess, was marketed as the Celica Supra in all export countries.
In August 1982, the new Celica Supra was introduced to the European market for the first time. In the UK, where there was a limited supply of just 100 vehicles per month, the Celica Supra enjoyed an added air of exclusivity.
The Supra’s renowned long wheelbase and stretched front-end allowed Toyota to once again equip its top-of-the-line sports car with a straight-six powerplant, particularly its new 2.8-litre 5M-GE flagship twin-cam engine, even though it was identical to the regular Celica coup from the B-pillar backwards. Retractable headlamps, a more pronounced flare to the wheel arches, and, most crucially for enthusiasts, independent rear suspension were other distinguishing features of the second-generation Celica Supra.
A gt86 is it a Celica?
Being the initial representation of an official, manufacturer-backed push into the world of rallying, the very unassuming first-generation Toyota Celica holds a significant position in the history of Toyota in racing. Due to its success, Toyota Team Europe (TTE), currently known as Toyota Motorsport GmbH, was founded (TMG).
Due to its success, TTE, today known as Toyota Motorsport GmbH, was established.
When Toyota and top Swedish rally driver Ove Andersson met by chance in 1972, the Celica made its debut in the sport.
Ove was interested in building the framework for a post-retirement business strategy in rally vehicle preparation, and Toyota had been searching for a covert approach to enter the World Rally Championship that wouldn’t contradict with the company’s stance on the ongoing oil crisis.
Therefore, an agreement was made wherein Ove would receive funding from the manufacturer and a car to help him prepare a brand-new Celica for the 1972 Daily Mirror RAC Rally. Success came quickly as Andersson and co-pilot Geraint Phillips comfortably defeated the three works Datsun 240Z models while piloting the 135 horsepower coupe to a class victory and ninth place overall.
Encouraged by the outcome, Toyota assisted Andersson in creating a more official work team, Team Toyota Andersson. The squad, which began as a relatively low-profile operation with only four mechanics and was based out of Andersson’s Uppsala, Sweden, house, took on a schedule of four significant rallies in 1973 while using Celicas made to comparable standards. However, the team relocated to continental Europe in February 1975 and took the name Toyota Team Europe.
The only Toyota rally vehicles in history to not sport the manufacturer’s white base color livery were these early Team Toyota Andersson rally Celicas.