The Japanese sports model with the legendary name, which left the market 17 years ago, is tipped to have an all-electric “filling”.
Toyota began producing the Celica sports car in late 1970. The model remained on the market without interruption until 2006, during which time it managed to change generations six times, and the seventh generation was introduced in 1999. The Celica was Toyota's global model and was produced in Japan. Now, 17 years after the sports car was retired, information has emerged about its revival.
Pictured: Toyota Seventh generation Celica
However, we will have to immediately upset fans of sports cars of the past, equipped with traditional internal combustion engines: if the revival of the Celica is considered, it is in the context of the current agenda: we are talking about the development of all-electric models of the brand. So the future new product will presumably become part of Toyota’s “era of sports electric vehicles.”
The fact that there is a chance for the return of the Celica is reported by the internal publication Toyota Times, citing the chairman of the board of the corporation, Akio Toyoda (the fact that he is leaving the post of CEO of Toyota became known at the beginning of this year). It is known that he still has influence over the manufacturer and its strategy. According to him, he would like to see the return of this sports car to the brand’s lineup. Akio Toyoda added that he would convey his wishes to the current leaders of the company.
In the photo: the interior of the seventh generation Toyota Celica
The former head of Toyota noted that if the corresponding project is given the green light, the new sports car may still receive a different name. In this case, he will obviously become the ideological heir to the Toyota Celica.
It is worth recalling that in 2017, Akio Toyoda said that under his leadership, Toyota would not produce “any more boring cars.” He was the driving force in the formation and expansion of the Gazoo Racing division: over the past few years it has released several “charged” models — GR Corolla, GR Yaris, as well as sports cars GR Supra and GR86.
The company's management has not yet said anything specific about the possible return of the Celica; they only noted that the new modular platform developed for electric vehicles “opens up many different possibilities.” Note that the first-born on this “trolley” will be the Lexus hatchback, which will go on sale in 2026. It will be based on the LF-ZC concept, presented late last month as part of the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.
Pictured : Toyota FT-Se 1/3 concept sports car 
In the photo: Toyota FT-Se 2/3 concept sports car 
In the photo: Toyota FT-Se 3/3 concept sports car
By the way, at the same exhibition, Toyota presented the all-electric FT-Se concept sports car. Its length is 4.4 meters, and the design style gravitates towards the retired MR2 model. Subsequently, the show car will form the basis of a “green” sports coupe from the Gazoo Racing division. It is known that the new product will appear no earlier than 2026.