The Celica name might be due a comeback
Wishful thinking?
Around 9 years ago, Subaru and Toyota jointly developed the BRZ/86, a 2+2 lightweight sportscar that the market was desperately in need of. So when Subaru unveiled the 2022 BRZ a few months ago, we all naturally assumed that Toyota would follow suit with the new 86, but they didn't.
Some said the reveal had been delayed simply because Toyota wanted to give the car a new name and indeed that might be the case because on January 15, Toyota filed a request with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to trademark the name 'Celica', for 'Automobiles and structural parts thereof'.
The first Toyota Celica was unveiled in 1970 and the namesake has been used for several different cars across seven generations until 2006, when production for the final iteration of the Celica, a front-wheel-drive liftback coupe, came to an end.
Historically, the Celica has always been marketed as a lightweight sportscar priced and positioned below the more expensive and more powerful Supra and this market description would fit the bill for the upcoming 86 replacement.
The entry-level Supra is priced at £52,695 and powered by a 258-hp engine whereas the new 86/BRZ is powered by a 228-hp engine, priced from around £32k.
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Comments (46)
The GR Yaris offered a glimpse into a new generation of 4WD drivetrain offerings Toyota can deliver but I wouldn’t hold my breath for a new Celica GT-Four.
I hope they make an 86 but give it the power to go with its looks
Do you define power by horsepower? If so, that car isn't for you
Power IS Horsepower, but as you say the '86 is not supposed to be a powerful car. It's supposed to be fun, like an MX-5
So, having a Celica slot bellow supra shoud be hard. Problem is that if the supra should sticked just to the 6 inliner, then the it woulda make sense to have the toyota BRZ version having a four banger instead, even may be a turbo. But having the entry level Supra will be friendly fire between 2 versions of basically same performance (2 seater, rwd coupe) car. So it is either at least a 10k difference between both models, plus a total different focus. Thing is that is the Yaris GR in the middle. Makes no sense at this point.
What about a Yaris' drivetrain with a 4th cylinder - 2+ liters and 300+ PS... With a 4WD....
Base Supra ia already under Yaris, so disregard that. Supra should be 6cyl
That would meant investment were Toyota is actually saving money (they didn't eve bothered to develop the supra inhouse). Plus I don't think using the current 2.0 Supra's engine transversally in the Yaris engine bay would be a plug and...
Read moreThe GT86 is pretty much the modern Celica
Soort of. The Celica also used to be a rally legend so it would be interesting to see a Celica as a competitor to the WRX, although that's highly unlikely
I was more talking about the original Celica which was RWD with a 4 cylinder engine just like the Gt86
How do they say this in Europe? Sell-e-ka?
My Scottish mate says Sa-leek-a
I can hear it in my head - not unlike hearing Morgan Freeman or the guy who talks about die-a-bee-tus.