2008 Celica?

[mustang84]

This was posted at the Top Gear boards. I don't know how much credibility it has, though; see if you can spot the major flaw of fact in this article.

The Toyota Celica is on its way out -- but then it's coming back in a brand new guise. But don't hold your breath, because it's not likely to appear until 2008.

According to a report in this week's Autocar, the Japanese car giant, which recently overtook GM as the world's biggest carmaker, is developing a mid-engined, 4WD hybrid car with four seats to replace both the MR2 and Celica. Both cars are nearing the end of their lives and will be withdrawn by mid-2006.

It could be called a Celica -- that's yet to be determined -- and it will draw inspiration from the CS+S concept shown in Tokyo in 2003 -- see pic. However, it leaves Toyota without a high-performance motor for the time being.

A radical departure for a sports car, the machine could house a power train similar to that of the Toyota Yaris T-Sport, using a 105bhp petrol engine, as does the Prius hybrid. It'll rev to 7,000rpm though, which, since the engine's a VVT-i, suggests that the power will mostly be found at the top end of the rev range.

Behind the engine will be a continuously variable transmission with artificial steps to make it a more familiar experience. But there'll also be a two electric motors, one for each pair of wheels, that'll kick in during urban excursions, and when extra power is called for. For example, the Prius's motors develop some 400lb-ft of torque, which is not to be sniffed at.

Other packaging firsts include a folding metal roof, the first in a mid-engined car. The delay is down to a shortage of hybrid drive-trains within Toyota, which is struggling to fulfil demand for them as it is.

Edited February 14, 2006 by mustang84

[Flybrian]

'Cause the last Celica and MR2 were such successes.

[thedriver]

don't they already sell the celica replacement over at scion?

[Variance]

don't they already sell the celica replacement over at scion?

The tC is considered too fat and not agile enough to be a true Celica replacement (even with the optional supercharger).

[nyscene911]

According to a report in this week's Autocar, the Japanese car giant, which recently overtook GM as the world's biggest carmaker,

Yeah, I'd take everything this guy said with a grain of salt...

[siegen]

Wow. Mid-engined, 4wd, 4 seats, two hybrid engines (in addition to the gasoline engine), and a folding hard top. So the rear seats are actually the exhaust manifold which sticks out of the firewall (heated seats none the less), and the hard top folds into the trunk space, leaving no cargo room. Or maybe it folds into a grove in the valve cover? The hybrid engines are actually out of an RC car, and only provide 1hp, but are very space efficient! Am I right?

Sounds like they just took all of the features of each car and combined them into one imaginary ultimate car!

:rotflmao:

[Satty]

My money would be on the next gen tC being lighter and more Celica-like while Toyota gets a new Supra.

[El Scorcho]

Okay, so when did Toyota overtake GM as the world's largest automaker...?

[Satty]

Okay, so when did Toyota overtake GM as the world's largest automaker...?

They bought Mattel and sold millions of Hot Wheels, they are including those in sales numbers. Or the writer was sniffing propane for a while before doing that peice.

[Bimmer325]

the Japanese car giant, which recently overtook GM as the world's biggest carmaker

The fact that no one commented on this (especially here on C&G) is proof that no one actually read the article.

[Variance]

The fact that no one commented on this (especially here on C&G) is proof that no one actually read the article. 

Look again. Nyscene911 and El Scorcho did.

[Mr Plow 2500HD]

Wow toyotas really trying now they let Homer Simpson design a second car..cool. Can this wonder celica drive ON water or does it just fly? Seriously this sounds like a packaging nightmare,

[Sixty8panther]

don't they already sell the celica replacement over at scion?

That's what Toyota said last year... I think the ugly, cheap looking and blandly styled Scion tC is more of a Tercel coupe replacement than Celica. I'm no Toyota fan but the last gen Celice had very interesting and unique styling. Honestly if that car had been RWD it would have been a pretty cool car.