The revival of the Celica is becoming more concrete. The new model, which Toyota allegedly calls Celica Sport internally, will be built on the next-generation Corolla architecture. However, this is not a simple transformation of a mass-market sedan into a coupe: the car will receive its own sporty tuning and all-wheel drive.
The main difference from current GR models is the powertrain. Instead of the 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbo engine of the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, Toyota is expected to use a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the G20E family. It will be supplemented with electrification, with current reports indicating a self-charging hybrid system.
All-wheel drive GR-Four is also expected. This is especially logical for the Celica: all-wheel drive versions of the previous generation became part of the model's legendary rally history, and Toyota is now once again associating the Celica name with the WRC championship. A spotted prototype of the future Toyota rally car has already received a two-door body resembling a sports coupe.
The transmission situation is also interesting. According to reports, Toyota is considering both a six-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic transmission. If this information is confirmed, the Celica will be one of the few new sports cars where the buyer will be offered a choice between two fundamentally different control formats.
There are no official figures for power yet. However, third-party estimates suggest a figure of about 400 hp, which would make the Celica significantly more powerful than the current GR Corolla with its 300 hp. This is already the level of a full-fledged sports coupe, not just an affordable two-door model.
The main competitor will be the revived Honda Prelude. But Toyota's approach will be much more aggressive: the Prelude uses front-wheel drive and a hybrid system with about 200 hp, while the Celica could get all-wheel drive, a turbo engine, and a manual transmission.
However, Toyota has not yet officially announced the premiere date and characteristics of the production car. Therefore, 2028 remains a guideline, not a confirmed launch date.