Out of nowhere: Toyota says Celica replacement coming to Europe in 2009
In an article in Automotive News about Toyota's opposition to a maximum speed limit on Germany's autobahn, the publication's Deutsch counterpart, Automobilwoche, reported that Toyota intends to bring the Celica back to market sometime in 2009. The only semi-sporting model in Toyota's lineup was killed in 2005 both here and abroad, and although it doesn't mention sales in the U.S., it stands to reason that if Toyota does decide to revive the Celica, a model here in the States would be a distinct possibility.
What form the new Celica might take is open to debate, but the recent rumblings of a low-cost RWD model might hint at the future. If Scion gets the rumored rear-driver, is it too far of a stretch that an upmarket version could don the Toyota emblem? In short: we hope so.
Thanks for the tip, Dylan!
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John R 8:57AM (11/20/2007)
Whatever it takes. Whether it be the Celica Supra or AE86, Toyota needs to get busy.
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Juan 9:05AM (11/20/2007)
They can make it FF or FR, but they need to make something. It doesn't seem right to be without a Celica for so long.
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RDL 9:51AM (11/20/2007)
Juan:
"They can make it FF or FR..."
If they're considering yet another FF car, I don't care.
Hyundai's Genesis Coupe needs all the competition it can get.
naggs 2:03PM (11/20/2007)
seems silly to start developing a sporty FF car now. unless it is going to be priced like a yaris, it will get overlooked because of the FR options that will start around $20k.
Mike 9:09AM (11/20/2007)
It's about time. FF or FR isn't even the issue really just make a sports car and make it fun and cheap...
How they can have an F1 team and no sports cars is a mystery, and how they think they can go from no sports cars to selling the Lexus LF is confusing. Sports cars are bred not made.
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geo.stewart 9:50AM (11/20/2007)
true statement and one that Toyota does not get.
Toyota's current appliance mentality keeps them from producing something spectacular.
The IS-F is just a sign of how far off the mark they are.
Anyone expecting something spectacular is wearing beer goggles. Heck toyota thinks the Corolla S is a sports sedan.
Leaf 10:13AM (11/20/2007)
geo.stewart hit the nail right on the head.
Keep the expectations low. Toyota is miles away from its peers in its ability to produce a good sports car.
psarhjinian 10:53AM (11/20/2007)
Toyota had three fun cars (the IS300, Celica and MR2) until very recently, and the Supra before that:
The IS300 was a more red-blooded sports sedan than the 3-Series of the time. It got criticized for being "not Lexus enough"
Say what you will, the last-gen Celica had excellent steering, a rev-happy engine, great suspension tuning and weighed very little. Between four-door pocket rockets and the SUV craze, the market dried up.
The MR-2 was the cheapest mid-engine you could buy. It could handily outdo a Miata of the same vintage, even if it was a little scary. Brand snobbery killed this one: anyone who wanted this kind of car was going to drop the money on a Porsche Boxster instead. For most people, it wasn't practical.
Toyota has built sportscars, but people didn't buy them in quantities that would make them profitable. It's the same reason we lost the Z, RX-7 and the F-Bodies: a tanking economy, rising insurance, SUVs and an aging market that, if it wanted sportscars, wanted them detuned for comfort and with a shiny badge on the nose. What little of this market was left got eaten by the WRX and it's ilk.
Don't blame Toyota for being an appliancemaker, they were doing what everyone else was doing at the time: cutting their losses and moving onto greener pastures.
naggs 2:07PM (11/20/2007)
you guys are full of it
if you really think that toyota is incapable of making a good sportscar because they dont have one now, you delusional. nothing stopping them from hiring the right people and giving them the resources to get the job done. lord knows they have the money.
im not saying that they will, just that history is overrated. hell, look at hyundai!
srivendel 9:19AM (11/20/2007)
"The only semi-sporting model"? Really? So the MR-2 doesn't count?
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Farris 9:35AM (11/20/2007)
The MR2 was killed off a few years back. I'm not sure of the year, but I'm fairly certain it was a before the Celica was killed.
And does anyone else think this *could* be a response to the Hyundai Genesis?
srivendel 9:40AM (11/20/2007)
The last model year for the MR2 in the US was 2005.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr2
RDL 9:53AM (11/20/2007)
Farris:
"And does anyone else think this *could* be a response to the Hyundai Genesis?"
+1
spencer 11:13AM (11/20/2007)
Why does every Toyota fanboy have to bring up the MR2 and Supra when they haven't built them for years? Yes they were awesome but it's like saying Buick builds high performance cars because they built the GNX.
I'm guessing this next generation Celica like past Celica's will be based on the new Corolla and will feature the same 2.4 liter lump that they're putting in the new Corolla S. Expect an optional TRD supercharger that few will buy.
srivendel 11:57AM (11/20/2007)
I'm a Toyota fanboi for pointing out that Toyota sold more than one sporty car during the 2005 model year? LOL
Dude, you might not have been able to drive yet back in 2005, but it wasn't that long ago.
judd 9:39AM (11/20/2007)
They'd better hurry because Hyundai is taking over the world.
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Dausman 10:06AM (11/20/2007)
Farris.... Response to the Genesis...?/Tiburon? 350Z....G35/37....2000..... Mits EVO ,Sky, Miata, Solstice and other "sports" cars....TM had a few in the past and dropped out ....I guess they see there IS a market for a fun , driving class of vehicle.
The future Camaro, Mustang, new Dodge if it comes to fruition,,,etc etc
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416Hammy 10:16AM (11/20/2007)
I'm sending you back to English 101 for a refresher.
WTF did you just try to say?
spw 10:58AM (11/20/2007)
he said that there are at least 10 other cars on the market that are like Celica, not just upcoming 350Z competitor from Hyundai.
Dausman 12:01PM (11/20/2007)
Thanks spw,
You understood my message...