Autoblog

Watch a restored 1980 Toyota Celica rally car put through its paces by Neal Bates

Chris Shunk — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:56:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Videos, Toyota

Former and current Toyota driver Neal Bates started his rally career over 20 years ago. While that seems like a long time to have been racing, even back then a 1980 Toyota Celica was pretty old school. Mr. Bates and his friends at Toyota set out to prove that the old Celica is still cool by giving the RA40 dirt runner a full restore ahead of its ARC debut in Melbourne.

Bates, Coral Taylor and the 32-year-old Celica took first in the opening round of the 2012 Australian Rally Championship, and if you watch the video below, you'll see why. Bates put the beefed-up Celica through its paces, and it looks like he hasn't lost a step.

Continue reading Watch a restored 1980 Toyota Celica rally car put through its paces by Neal Bates

Watch a restored 1980 Toyota Celica rally car put through its paces by Neal Bates originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This 800-hp Toyota Celica beat up Formula 1 cars at Goodwood [w/video]

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Toyota, Racing

Jonny Milner's Goodwood Toyota Celica - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is filled with a variety of machines all battling towards a singular goal. Every driver wants to be the cross the finish line in the least amount of time, and this year the winning car was a bit of a surprise. A bright orange Toyota Celica, piloted by rally champion Jonny Milner, blazed up the 1.16-mile Goodwood hillclimb course in 48.07 seconds. That time bested all of the supercars, and even the Formula 1 racers that participated.

How does a Toyota Celica make the run that quickly? By pumping out over 800 horsepower to all four wheels in a car that only weighs 2,318 pounds. The Celica's stock engine was replaced with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit plucked from a WRC Toyota Corolla. That mill was then paired with both a Rotrex supercharger and Garrett turbocharger, and Iif that wasn't enough, a nitrous oxide system was thrown in for good measure.

Video of the winning run hasn't made its way to the Internet just yet, but we do have footage of the car throwing down a 48.99-second run. Click past the jump to watch the clip, and then fast forward to 1:48 for Jonny Milner's run.

Continue reading This 800-hp Toyota Celica beat up Formula 1 cars at Goodwood [w/video]

This 800-hp Toyota Celica beat up Formula 1 cars at Goodwood [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota teases FT-86 II concept for Geneva

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Toyota

Subaru has already confirmed that it's sports car being jointly developed with Toyota is coming to the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Now Toyota is getting into the action by announcing today that its version of the jointly developed sports car, the FT-86, will be there... and it will be an evolution of the concept shown back in 2009 at the Tokyo Motor Show. The updated version is called the Toyota FT-86 II and promises to be our clearest view yet of what the production vehicle will look like.

Toyota is also going so far as to say that the FT-86 II will prove the automaker has a "reborn passion for sports car driving." If the FT-86 II can evoke memories of Celicas, Supras and even a hint of the legendary 2000GT, then we say build it as fast as you can.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota teases FT-86 II concept for Geneva

Toyota teases FT-86 II concept for Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: JDM Legends gives vintage Japanese iron new life in U.S.

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Japan, Videos

JDM Legends brings vintage Japan to the U.S. - Click above to watch video after the jump

Trey Cobb, the founder of Cobb Tuning, has a love for vintage Japanese automobiles. In 2009, Cobb and fellow Japanese car junkie Eric Bizek decided to build a company around that love affair and JDM Legends was born. Based in Utah, JDM Legends imports, restores, services and sells classic Japanese cars.

The team has already brought a 1973 Toyota Celica, 1970 Datsun 510 and a handful of early Nissan Skyline models back to life. More cars are planned for the future and two of the Skylines are currently being offered for sale.

JDM Legends had someone stop by with a video camera and capture the cars currently in the garage. Though the film is a bit slow, the cars look particularly stunning in high-definition. Hop the jump to watch the clip.

[Source: JDM Legends via Vimeo]

Continue reading Video: JDM Legends gives vintage Japanese iron new life in U.S.

Video: JDM Legends gives vintage Japanese iron new life in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1993 Toyota Celica All-Trac is a timewarp rally hero

Zach Bowman — Fri, 28 May 2010 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Toyota

1993 Toyota Celica All-Trac - Click above for image gallery

During the late '80s and early '90s, American buyers were stuck with the over-regulated, hollowed-out versions of hot metal available in Japan and Europe. While our friends across the Pacific were busy driving things with SiR and GT-R badges, we had to be content to import parts and spin our own wrenches just to get a fraction of the performance available to buyers straight from the factory outside of the States. One of the few companies to actually throw us yanks a bone was, believe it or not, Toyota. Before the company resorted to selling the automotive equivalent of bran flakes, you could find legendary cars like the Supra and Celica All-Trac lurking in the dark corners of U.S. dealer lots.

Thanks to Vin Diesel and Paul Walker's silver screen exploits, every Pep Boys parking lot knows about the Supra, but the Celica All-Trac remains far less celebrated - and far more rare. By the fifth generation, the car couldn't have been any more different from its plebian brethren. The All-Trac abandoned its native front-wheel drive for a sophisticated all-wheel drive system born on the rally stages of the world, and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produced a lofty 200 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque - big numbers considering the Ford Mustang GT of the day managed a measly 220 horsepower.

Needless to say, these puppies are rare, and it's nearly impossible to find one that hasn't been ran hard and put away wet. That makes this particular eBay find beyond special. A one-owner, 1993 Toyota Celica All-Trac with a scant 40,500 miles, it's as cherry as cherry can be. You can find it in Marietta, Georgia with three days left on the clock and a reserve not yet met with the bidding at $8,670 as of publish time. Check the full listing here. Thanks for the tip, James!

Gallery: 1993 Toyota Celica All-Trac

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 1993 Toyota Celica All-Trac is a timewarp rally hero originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 May 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota FT-86 concept gets a family-style welcome

Chris Paukert — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Toyota

Toyota FT-86 Sports Concept - click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota Motor Co. president Akio Toyoda has stressed that his family's company must work to create more emotionally engaging products as part of its bid to reinvent its now-battered image. Central to that effort will be the production version of its well-received FT-86 Sports Concept, the two-door rear-driver that made its European debut at this week's Geneva Motor Show, where it drew quite a crowd.

Toyota now appears to be pushing its brand's enthusiast heritage, something it hasn't truly done with fresh products in some time - at least not outside of its Lexus brand. In any case, the Japanese automaker has just released a series of new photos, including a family portrait of sorts that places the FT-86 in the context of the Corolla AE86 (its most obvious spiritual predecessor) as well as the Celica and Supra. Although the press release available after the jump pays lip service to the MR2, none is pictured.

While there is no substantive new information about a production timetable for the comely coupe, Toyota has released a series of images of the FT-86 that are certainly worth perusing. You can check them out below while you're waiting for more info about the car's future.

Gallery: Toyota FT-86 Sports Concept 'Family Portrait'

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota FT-86 concept gets a family-style welcome

Toyota FT-86 concept gets a family-style welcome originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Celica or Scion tC? Toyota reportedly deliberating over production FT-86 nameplate

Noah Joseph — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Tokyo Motor Show, Scion, Toyota

Toyota FT-86 Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Although the Toyota FT-86, freshly unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, is billed strictly as a concept car, we're fully expecting the rear-wheel-drive coupe to foreshadow a new production car from Toyota. The question on everyone's lips, then, is what Toyota will call the final version when it hits the market.

Some reports are indicating that Toyota will revive the Celica nameplate, a name which still carries a certain following among Japanese sportscar fans even though it hasn't been used in four years. Other reports are suggest that when the production FT-86 reaches American shores, it will act as a replacement for the current Scion tC. Both the models, in their last iterations, were front-drive models, but that may not be a factor in determining the vehicle's name.

So which is true? Only time will tell, but both reports could ultimately prove accurate. Even if Toyota does decide to badge the FT-86 a Scion, the youth-oriented brand is only active in the North American market, meaning that the Japanese automaker will still need another name for use in its domestic market and others overseas. Which name would appeal to you more? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Gallery: Toyota FT-86 Concept in the Studio

[Sources: Autocar and The Detroit Bureau]

Toyota Celica or Scion tC? Toyota reportedly deliberating over production FT-86 nameplate originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Toyota reviving Celica name for joint Subaru RWD car

John Neff — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Japan, Subaru, Toyota

The last report about the on again/off again sports car being developed jointly by Toyota and Subaru was that it's on again. Today comes word from L'Automobile in France that not only is the rear-wheel-drive Toyubaru going to happen, but it will arrive bearing the Celica name sometime in 2010. If Wikipedia is to be believed, this would be the eighth generation of the Celica, which traces its roots all the way back to 1970 when it debuted in Japan as an inexpensive rear-wheel-drive sports car. Through the years it switched to front- and all-wheel drive, with the final seventh generation Celica sold from 2000 - 2005 being a strict cart puller. L'Automobile claims that Thierry Dombreval, Toyota's VP of sales and marketing in France, spilled the beans on reviving the Celica name, so we won't consider this news solid until a second source comes forward or Toyota officially confirms it, neither of which is likely to happen. So for now all you Celica fans should just sit tight and light a few candles for your cause.

Gallery: 2005 Toyota Celica GT-S

[Source: L'Automobile via 4WheelsNews via Jalopnik]

REPORT: Toyota reviving Celica name for joint Subaru RWD car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Out of nowhere: Toyota says Celica replacement coming to Europe in 2009

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Europe, Toyota

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.]

Out of nowhere: Toyota says Celica replacement coming to Europe in 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RR of the Day: MkII Toyota Supra

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Toyota, RR of the Day

The MkII Toyota Supra never received the affection garnered by its younger siblings, but it set the standard for future coupes and is still beloved in certain circles.

Power came from either a 2- or 2.8-liter inline six that produced anywhere between 145 and 161 HP and was channeled through a five-speed gearbox. Weighing in at just over 3,000 pounds, it was a quick ride for its time and proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable whip for both this writer and Flickr member longbowmkii.

There seem to be fewer and fewer of these on the road in decent shape, so we thought this particular example deserved a spot in this week's RR of the Day, 80s edition. We're even more enthused that Mr. Longbow has gotten his MkII out to a local autocross to see if it can still hang in the gymkhana world.

We're still on the prowl for more rides of the 80s, so tease your hair out, throw on that zipper laden leather jacket and submit your photos to our Flickr account by following the directions after the jump.

Continue reading RR of the Day: MkII Toyota Supra

RR of the Day: MkII Toyota Supra originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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