- Work on a new Celica is reportedly already at an advanced development stage.
- The sports model hasn’t yet been approved, at least not for the United States.
- It’s been nearly 20 years since the seventh-generation Celica ended production.
There’s something uniquely persistent about the sports car rumor mill, and Toyota seems to be feeding it again. The company is rumored to be working on several sports car models, and officials have confirmed one of them could be a new Celica. If everything pans out, it would be the first in nearly two decades.
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However, that’s a big if, and the model reportedly hasn’t been greenlighted – at least for the United States. That being said, Toyota Motor North America’s Senior Vice President of Product Planning and Strategy said, “We are working on a product that could theoretically go by the Celica name, if we can figure out how to pull it off and it gets approved.”
More: Toyota Is Preparing A Raft Of New GR Sports Cars And SUVs
Cooper Ericksen wouldn’t go into specifics, but told MotorTrend the car is a “pretty advanced development.” The report also mentions that Toyota executives dismissed the accuracy of unofficial renderings circulating online, suggesting the real design is taking a different path. It adds that prototypes and concept materials have already been shown to dealers, with test mules currently out evaluating powertrains.
Interestingly, it might not be electric. As Ericksen explained, “Akio [Toyoda] has said when it comes to specialized GR performance products, it is very difficult to replicate that emotional driving feel out on [the] track with something other than traditional ICE.” He went on to suggest it could be “something that does not have an electric drive.”
Development is said to be headed up in Japan, so U.S. officials reportedly don’t know much about the car – or at least they’re not saying much. Regardless, they appear to want the model to come stateside.
Of course, there will be natural questions about pricing and positioning. While the Supra is bowing out, the GR86 is still relatively young, and officials recently suggested there will be a third-generation model in the future.
The 2005 Toyota Celica started at $19,830, which, adjusting for inflation, is roughly $33,400 in today’s money. That’s pretty much on par with the 2025 GR86, which begins at $30,000 before factoring in a $1,135 destination fee.
In any case, it looks like Toyota is seriously exploring a return for one of its most iconic badges. Whether or not it lands in your driveway is still uncertain, but at least the name is back in the conversation.
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#Toyota #Showed #Dealers #Celica #Wont #Coming
