The Return of a Legend: What the 2028 Toyota Celica Will Be Like

After years of rumors and speculation, Toyota has officially decided to bring the Celica name back to its model lineup. The revived coupe is expected to appear as a 2028 model year vehicle and take its place in the brand's sports lineup between the GR86 and more expensive Gazoo Racing models.

The arrival of the new Celica holds special significance for Toyota. The project will bring together the brand's historic sports trio – Celica, Supra, and MR2. This is the vision that former Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda previously wanted to see.

Where the New Celica Will Fit In

The Toyota Celica Sport will be an all-new compact sports model with a coupe body. Unlike some of the brand's current vehicles created through partnership projects, the new Celica is being developed directly by Toyota under the Gazoo Racing brand.

According to the manufacturer's vision, the car should offer more serious dynamics and an enthusiast-oriented setup than the Honda Prelude. However, the Celica is not intended to be transformed into a soft front-wheel-drive coupe for leisurely drives.

The core concept is an all-wheel-drive vehicle with high engine output, designed for both everyday use and sports applications. Special attention is being paid to technologies and solutions related to Toyota's rally program during development.

Key features of the future model:

a compact sports coupe with a driver-oriented seating configuration;
all-wheel drive with torque vectoring capability;
a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine;
a hybrid powertrain;
a choice between automatic and manual transmissions.

Exterior with References to Rally Celicas

The design of the future Celica should combine features of classic liftback models and the styling of modern Toyota concept cars. According to available data, the car will have a long hood, a low roof, and a visually widened rear body section.

The front end will feature Toyota's characteristic angular styling. Expect signature lighting graphics in the spirit of the "hammerhead" concept, and the lower part of the bumper will receive a large mesh air intake for improved cooling.

In profile, the Celica Sport will retain a compact two-door liftback silhouette. This shape should evoke the famous rally versions of the Celica All-Trac and GT-Four, especially those known in the 1990s.

The interior, in turn, is intended to be maximally driver-oriented. Low-slung bucket seats, an angled central touchscreen, and physical controls for the most important vehicle modes are expected.

Based on the Front-Engine Corolla Architecture

Unlike the future revived MR2, which is rumored to have a mid-engine layout, the new Celica will feature a front-engine architecture. Toyota plans to use an adapted platform from the next-generation Corolla as its basis.

Using a mass-produced architecture should help reduce production costs and maintain the economic viability of producing a sports coupe. However, the original design will be significantly refined for the new task.

The chassis will receive additional reinforcements and increased width. Body reinforcement elements developed with experience gained by Toyota during WRC World Rally Championship testing will also be integrated into the design.

Thus, the Celica should maintain a connection to the mass-market model architecture, but at the same time receive a significantly sportier chassis.

Two Liters, Turbocharging, and Up to 400 hp

One of the main differences between the new Celica and the GR Corolla will be the engine. Instead of the three-cylinder 1.6-liter unit used in the GR Corolla, the coupe will receive a new G20E 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

To meet stringent environmental requirements, the engine will be combined with a self-charging hybrid system. The final output will depend on the car's version.

Base versions are expected to develop around 300 hp, while the power of flagship GR variants could reach an impressive 400 hp.

Power will be transmitted through a modernized Toyota GR-Four all-wheel-drive system. It will be able to vary torque distribution between the front and rear axles depending on driving conditions.

Moreover, fans of classic Toyota sports cars will apparently not have to settle for an automatic. It is reported that the hybrid powertrain will be adapted for both an eight-speed automatic transmission and a traditional six-speed manual transmission.

How Much Will the Celica Cost?

Toyota has not yet revealed official prices. Final figures should appear closer to the start of mass production, but preliminary cost estimates already exist.

The estimated range is as follows:

Celica Sport – approximately 3.6-3.9 million rubles;
GR Celica Sport with all-wheel drive and 400 hp – approximately 4.16-4.5 million rubles.

At these prices, the new model will be noticeably more expensive than the base GR86, which is estimated at around 2.77 million rubles. At the same time, the Celica will remain significantly more affordable than cars in the upper segment of sports models.

When Will the Premiere Take Place?

Toyota is expected to show the first pre-production version of the Celica Sport in late 2026 or early 2027. This refers to a pre-production concept that should give an idea of the future coupe.

The production car is planned to be launched as a 2028 model. Sales are expected to begin in mid-to-late 2027.

If the schedule doesn't change, the return of the Celica will be one of the most notable events in Toyota's sports lineup: the company is not just reviving a familiar name, but preparing a new place for it between the compact GR86 and more expensive members of the Gazoo Racing family.