Japanese automotive media have been on a roll in speculations of a return to that golden era of the 1980s and 1990s. The country’s number one car magazine, Best Car has published another scoop and Toyota fans, brace yourselves for the whiplash of excitement.
While the rumours of Toyota reviving the Celica name aren’t exactly new having been hinted by its key leaders, Chairman Akio Toyoda and CEO Koji Sato, this latest scoop reveals something special for the powertrain.
Instead of a turbocharged 3-cylinder unit, Best Car reported that the revived Celica could be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder powerplant. This speculation ties back to a video presentation shown by Toyota at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January 2024.
In that video, Chairman Toyoda revealed two engines with a turbocharged 4-cylinder unit shown in the foreground flanked by engineers. Development for the powerplant was still underway when the video was released but therein lies a problem – what is the engine’s purpose and where should it be fitted to?
The turbocharged 4-cylinder unit is in the foreground with the red cover
The Japanese publication reported that the project was nearly halted as Toyota began to prioritise electrification efforts, especially in battery electric vehicles (BEVs). However, the project is instead ongoing following Toyota's announcement that it will collaborate with Mazda and Subaru in engine development. During that announcement, the same red-top engine was shown.
Still, reports suggested that all of this is still in the planning stages but there is one more speculative nugget of information by Best Car. The upcoming Celica could also see the revival of the famed GT-Four as the sports car could be fitted with all-wheel drive (AWD).
Despite the rally heritage, the speculated all-new Celica could be more luxury-oriented than full-fledged performance. Think of it as a replacement for the GR Supra of which its twin, the BMW Z4 is rumoured to be facing discontinuation.
As such, the (GR?) Celica could take over the Supra as Toyota’s flagship sports car. Best Car also reported that a concept that previews the upcoming Celica could be introduced at the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon in January.
Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.
