Toyota Celica coming back in 2009
November 20, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
Toyota has cautiously told the automotive world the Celica will make a European comeback in 2009.
Markus Schrick, vice president of Toyota Deutschland was speaking to Automobilwoche about the possibility of speed restrictions on the autobahn before breaking the news.
Mr Schrick said Toyota plans to introduce a replacement for the Celica sport coupe in Europe in 2009. The Celica – which had the reputation of being a hairdresser’s car by the end – was discontinued worldwide in 2005.
Having launched the TRD brand in Australia backed up by a massive marketing campaign, it seems that Toyota has listened to the calls of millions. The brand desperately needs sports cars outside of the Japanese market to improve its image.
Lexus – Toyota’s luxury division – will soon introduce the IS-F which will become the company’s flagship performance model. Toyota is also working on a new Supra, rumoured to be hybrid-powered.
Print it: 
If they bring it back, its a new generation GT-Four or nothing.
I agree, and if they bring it back….It’ll be 140k and only available with a dumb gearbox (a la MR2 – 10 grand more than an MX-5 and slower due to its crap SMG style box).
Oh yeah…and to top it off it’ll have the worlds most over-active VSC.
I heard (about the time new Corolla was released) rumours it would be a Celica MR2 – kind of a coming together of the two models. Wonder if it holds any truth? Any one else heard this one?
It would be a good idea to have the two models together, as long as it was RWD. Maybe Honda should bring back the Prelude and Integra together… Integelude.
Personally I think an AWD Turbo-4 Coupe for the Evo to play with would be the go. Especially now that the WRX is basically out of the picture.
LOL @ Myke… Integelude. Better than Pregra I guess :P
I should say ‘Interlude’ for any upcoming Honda coupe. Hyundai are coming up with a RWD sports car, and with the increasing passion for drifting, the Japs should know their thing.
The Evo needs a rival, so a GT-Four revival will be nice.
Do you guys know what you’re talking about when you say the Celica had a reputation as being a hairdresser’s car by the end of its life? It was definitely not.
It had a redline almost as high as the S2000 in the upper 8000s or lower 9000s, it had a very peaky VVTL-i engine and was neck to neck in performance with the Honda Integra Type R… :|
It was the PREVIOUS model before it that was a hairdresser’s vehicle, with a Camry engine.
Get your facts right.
Sorry JW but it is you who has his facts wrong. Toyota’s engine doesn’t even come close to the S2000. Toyota’s 2ZZ-GE featured in the Celica runs a spark cut at 8200rpm, no where near Honda’s 9000rpm cutout. Power output is a lowly 140kw compared to Honda’s 176kw (which is still the most powerful naturally aspirated production engine per litre.).
The Celica was also front wheel drive with poor weight distribution whilst Honda’s effort is rear wheel drive, LSD with a 50:50 weight distribution. The S2000 is a sports car. The Celica is definetely a hairdresser’s car. The only people caught driving them are 40yr old chicks who think it looks ‘cute’.
The only thing interesting about the last model Celica was the engine but the most interesting thing of all is the fact that the engine isn’t even Toyota’s. The design was crafted by Yamaha, hence the road bike like characteristics.
Yeah the 1.8L VVTL i engine is the same as that used in the lotus exige/elise, it makes 141kw which is pretty impressive considering it is naturally aspirated.
The vehicle pictured is the “FT-HS” concept car, a petrol hybrid which they claim can do 0-100 in under 4 seconds… it’s not the new supra or the celica and being a concept car, it’s unlikely that any production model will be as “out there” as this. Although you never know, the celica in 2000 was the first one with those triangular lights, and now they seem to be in all sorts of cars (most notably the 350z)
Jason: I think the celica was more aimed at the integra/prelude rather than an s2000. Against the prelude/integra it was competitive, but the s2000 is simply in another league, crazy figures for a 2L na engine.
The VVTL-i was co-developed with Yamaha, like the high-rev 20-valve that hardly saw itself outside Japan. But yeah, the S2000 still has the best power-per-litre out there, although the US version was stroked to 2.2-litres, probably because the blokes there find the 2.0 not torquey enough, as are other Hondas.
Celicas have had very good chassis since. They handled well for FWD cars. Aside from having less performance than Honda counterparts, there are not that much tuners out there to soup up these Toyotas, which means they have to go for expensive TRD or TOMS parts only. Hondas have heaps of performance upgrades at much lower prices, thus the racer image of the brand.
Cool a new Cillycar………..
Toyota, if you are listening please build me a V6 engined MX-5 couple with monster brakes, lots of boot space with full sized spare wheel, and NO QUIRKY STYLING!!!!
Am I asking too much?
Please pretty please.
the trend it seems here anyways, is that everyone wants sporty looking vehicles or “sporty” sedans.
basically sporty vehicles.
The market is tiny to be honest, Toyota saying they will make a new Celica is very vague, trust me on that one. Many many many concepts or ideas are thrown around, then the feasibility is analyzed and if it aint worth it, they will scrap it.
Toyota is either going to release a new coupe to compete with the Zs, RX-8s etc OR a coupe to compete with the Civics, basically cheap car aimed for the young demographic… with the Lexus getting all the performance funding, Toyota will not produce 2-3 sports coupe within 20K of each other (OZ $$$). Its either going to be a mid-upper sports car or a economic light weight RWD…
2009 is a year away, and the only images you guys have seen are the FT-HS concept car, that yellow toyota coupe from a japanese magazine and the light weight “Trueno” replacement… chances are the new “celica” IS ONE of them. the thing is, the “yellow” coupe has a spyder variant, the FT-HS is also a 2 seater…. the “new trueno” is the only 4 seater coupe… so i’m leaning towards this one as it has a bigger market just for practicality sense.
The FT-HS however is extremely hard to manufacture looking at the design alone… and you know, the harder it is to manufacture the higher the price… so IF Toyota does release a FT-HS type vehicle, they’ll pull a Nissan and price it around 80K+.
About the celica, It does have a nice engine believe it or not, looks wise had potential especially with the sports kit made it look a lot tougher rather than “cute”. The only down fall would be a 45+ K price tag for a heavy FWD. Its half a luxury sports coupe and half a performance sports coupe… it doesnt do either well… so it didnt really take off either markets.
From my perspective and MANY here would agree… put RWD based platform same engine… cut down on the electronics (make it lighter)… price it down 5K…. and it would of been a tuner/cult car today.
Just another tid bit…
Read some more info from torquereport.com
It seems that those “new trueno” photos are more than just concepts. I think put 1 and 1 together and the chance of a RWD lightweight, “cheap” coupe badged as the next Celica is likely.
I doubt they’d sell it “cheap” in Oz, there’s no such thing as “cheap” cars down under really. Highest dollar for dollar price around the globe. So sub 35K looks like a realistic number. But it should be 25k +/- 10% based on features.
Also, no mention of turbo charging the “trueno” from discussions about it… but 80kW 1000kg Celica RWD isnt too bad… but 115/120kW 1000kg Celica RWD is MUCH BETTER.
stock for stock. the celica is not neck to neck with the integra type r in performance.
i was pretty much hoping the new supra to be put in the celica’s price bracket since they were talking about affordability for the hybrid sportscar.
No, my point was that the idea about the Celica being a hairdresser’s car was not true for the last generation. It was true for the generation before it.
The engine was competitive in its class, and I don’t see many other cars with such a high redline either. A hairdresser’s car it was not.
I am positive that Toyota flatly denied a new Supra and said the FT-HS is NOT a Supra (thank God for that).
I’d only consider that Celica if it was as the GT-Four was, 4wd. FWD sports coupes should be considered a cardinal sin.
The hairdresser that i know of drives a supra twin turbo..
Having owned 3 Celica’s I can say the following
1. My last hairdresser owned an Clubsport R8. He used to take the piss out my car. And rightly so from a performance (or lack thereof)perspective
2. Handling on the latest Celica was very good, so long as it is not wet.
3. FWD was indeed a cardinal sin and has never ever ceased to piss me off. I am scarred for life and could not bear to purchase another FWD again
4. The performance is mediocre at best when you compare it to anything that is supposed to be a ’sports’ car for a similar price. And that rule even applies to the 6sp Manual
5. It takes you FAR FAR too long a time of jamming the pedal thru the firewall before you get anywhere near the 140kW theoretically on offer. That 140kW last about 1/2 sec before you need to change to the next gear where once again you wait wait wait before getting a push along
6. They look great.
7. Did I mnention performance was mediocre. Just in case you missed it before – it is.
If the new Celica does come out as another FWD underperforming ladies car like the version that just left us, then it has no hope. Drop in a decent performing turbocharged beast of a motor (preferably from Subaru)and def. make it an AWD platform and you will have no competition for it. You would not even consider an Evo or WRX if your preference was for a coupe’ and not a Four Door .
But knowing Toyota, the lame ducks that they are, they will not do this, and will produce a zzzz something akin to the TRD Aurion.
And JW – just for the record – the reputation as a hairdressers car with all the implications therein (whether or not that profession would actually drive one) are justly deserved – even for the latest model.
No point harping on about the ‘redline’ when it takes you so long to get there. Really – there is no point. The power all comes too late to be really useful in practical terms
I believe the last Celica was a great effort for Toyota, although the engine was a bit weak at low revs, they really got the handling dynamics right, and was a light car (around 1100 KG I think). Also the styling was ahead of its time (the new GTR headlights are copied from the Celica!)
But boy did they really stuff it up with the 2002 facelift, and the ‘mouth’ on the front.
Look forward to seeing a new one with a better engine, and hopefully AWD + Turbo GT4 version.
your chances of seeing an AWD Turbo Toyota anything are between zero and buckleys. Toyota are a very middle of the road sort of company and I dont see that changing any time soon. And dont bring the TRD Camry thing into the equation because it does not qualify as an exciting vehicle.
well one reason why the conservative move is due to the emission laws.
MR2 GT, Supra RZ etc… all stopped production due to many factors, but the changing emission laws and changing market trend was primary reasons.
As I said, dont be surprise if that “new trueno” photos going around on the net is further developed than expected.
The concept’s pig ugly. Someone had to say that after 23 posts.
the concept is def. good looking. alas beauty is in the eye of the beholder. and most beholders will like it.
btw – where is Toyota Paul? How could he let a Toyota story go without chipping in at least one post?
He got banned for 24 hours weeks ago………hasn’t come back since!
Our best friend ever “Toyota Paul” scum changed it’s name to “STFU” and runns scared after it made it’s only post on the part about the Camry Dragster.
This is good news for all the girls I seen driving the celica every toyota celica i seen on the roads all drivers are girls.
I hope when they bring out the new celica it doesnt look weird and stupid!
NO-ONE LIKES THE 1994 and newer model of the Celica!!!
GO BACK TO THE ONE THAT STARTED IN 1990
DAMN RIGHT!! OLD SCHOOL CELICAS ARE THE SH**. I ONLY WISH TOYOTA NEVER SWITCHED FROM rwd to fwd. all celicas should be drifters
Hey Guys, I have a done up celica 2000. To be honest, its only looks great but drives nothing like a honda. Honda’s have better handling, smoother and has more torque. I was goning to buy a integra but the interior was so shit. They should have made it digital like the new cicic type R. Toyota should really need to bring back the GT-4 Model.
they should make a 90′ lookin model again 4wd like da old one……it woluld so woop da krap out of da prelude and integra…….idk whats happening with toyota……theyre goin gay……
GOTTA LOVE IT
Its a good model ;)
liked it and hey found lots of many updated models with cool car reviews
Any Updated news about the Toyota Supra..
please guys let us now, I think if it will be manual is better, but even if they provided it with an A/T i will still buy it,specially that the price is so reasnable seams to me.
I know this sounds superficial but the Celica is the only “sports” (and I use this word in a broad sense) car that seemed to age really well. I still love my 1992 Fangio (even though it is sitting outside my house needing repairs) and it drives ten times better than anything of its age that I could even get close to affording. Bring on a new model – car of my dreams (except maybe the new hybrid Supra – is it real or did one of my daydreams come to life? A muscle/sports with a conscious????)
why all fuss about horsepower. This is the real world not some Hollywood The Fast and The Furious. Everywhere you go is stop and go traffic. Even if you wanted to speed you can’t because of speeding tickets. Boy are you guys so freakin’ stupid. You always see the guy speeding and ends up at the same red light next to the slowest car. Hello?
anyone know or have an idea on how much this car will cost if it does go out on the market?
Alright all u guys talk about is how long it takes the new gen of celicas to rev up and bullshit like that. Now the older celicas if only they could make it more like that. I have an 86 celica gt-s with the t-vis intake manifold system which gives the car higher torque below 4200 rpms and also have an 86 all trac and both cars handle well and has no problem smokin the little hopped up civis u see goin around.
Bring back the pop-up lights!!!
Make it rear wheel drive, engine range at 1.8l to 2.4l and possibly a GT-4 model and we have a winner of a car :D thats guranteed to be sucessful.
if you can make the aurion do 9.9 liters to 100 km and still make it go 6.8 from 0 to 100 km then i can only imagine what a sports car would be like if toyota put some effort into it. just make sure to make it look good too. and do NOT put the speedo in the centre console.
the toyota celica better be the same just better engine and inside electronics but mine is 2001 and still works fine and i love my celica more than any other car and i amnot a hair dresser.
Hey…I have a gorgeous 2001 Celica and I was reading these posts today and almost choked when I read above “the only people caught driving them are 40yr old chicks who think it looks ‘cute’” – I am a 40 year old chick (who looks 30, btw – lol) and find that comment absolutely hilarious! Amazing how some people have spot-on Simon Cowell observations. That being said, I do think my car is cute. AND, it’s phenomenal on gas, and I still get tons of compliments when people see it. Granted, the compliments are from chicks but hey – a compliments a compliment! Bring back the Celica, I ‘d love to own a brand new one!
ok first of all the last gen. celicas are prob.the best car ever built aside from the almost emaculate gas useage for such a high reving engine it holds its value better than any car.the people who whine that it has such a high price tag did u ever think that your getting the best quality parts that no other vehicle matches you pay for what you get dumbos.oh its so weak it takes to long to get anything out of it . stop and think dumbasses its only a 1.8 litre and still beats cars with double the size engine if this thing even had a 3.0 litre in it would blow away 95 percent of the cars out there you people should use your brains when trash talking the celica and think for a second.
I hope it come backs the Celica.Currently unless you want a hot hatch There is nowhere for the people who drove affordable sports coupes for them to change over to.
I still remember the time way back in the early nineties when my Brother on P Plates said No to the Celica of the day instead opting for a crappy 2 Litre Nissan Pulsar which I found to be rather selfish considering It could have been something my now dead father would have enjoyed driving