Today

Toyota confirms return of Celica for 2027

New era for WRC brings with it an all-new Toyota GR car - a showroom model surely can't be far behind...

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A new Toyota Celica has been rumoured for so long that it had started to seem like it would never happen. But if there’s one OEM to be relied on to follow through on exciting projects (and dropped hints), it’s Toyota. So the Gazoo Racing family will expand in 2027, with confirmation of a new Celica. 

Well, sort of. It’s a WRC version that’s going to come first, and though there is plenty of online evidence of its new car testing, Toyota has declined to confirm what it will look like. That said, the manufacturer is well aware that even the mention of the nameplate in relation to world rallying is a pretty big deal, with that incredible heritage from the '80s and '90s to draw on. 

The new GR Celica Rally1 will be part of a two-team WRC effort for the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team in 2027, running separate cars; the new coupe (let’s assume it’s a coupe) will compete under the Toyota Racing banner. Then Gazoo Racing Toyota will field the GR Yaris; itself also a new car because of the Rally1 regs for next season, if more recognisable. 

Toyota will want to continue its recent dominance, of course, hence such a big effort. This year it equalled the record for consecutive manufacturers’ titles with its sixth, and three of its stars - Elfyn Evans, Oliver Solberg and Sami Pajari - finished in the drivers’ championship podium places. All three will be retained for the new era, alongside Takamoto Katsudea, Ott Tanak and Kalle Rovenpera - that’s a heck of a lot of rally experience in a combined line-up. 

Evans, Solberg and Pajari will be in the Celica, with Tanak, Katsuta and Rovanpera in the Yaris. Kalle will compete in selected events; opening up the door, reckons Toyota ‘to welcome other drivers into their line-up during the season.’ There’ll be no escaping Toyota’s presence in the opening season of the Rally1-spec World Rally Championship, basically: six factory cars on every single event, ‘entering two distinct squads with their own identities as equal challengers for victory, enhancing competition and creating new stories for fans to follow and enjoy.’

Currently TGR-WRT is developing both Rally1 cars in parallel, with a ‘2027 prototype car’ finishing up six days of testing in Finland. While Toyota has nothing more to say about the Celica for the moment, we won’t have to wait long: homologation should be completed next month, where we can expect ‘further details regarding the two cars and their liveries.’ Exciting news indeed - bring on that GT-Four…

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[EyeHeartSpellin]

Very excited by this.

[BEAMS 162]

Still have my 1987 Gen4 modified ST162 ,owned it 17 years.I've also had a 5th Gen Celica and 2 x ST205 GT4's during that time so to see at least the Celica name back in rallying is rather heart warming for me

We will see what a road going version could be,again within the Celica community there's a lot of talk and we all know talk doesn't mean much.Even those with some Toyota contacts are tight lipped.

Rumour of the car being a mid engine version with a 2.0 four cylinder upgraded version of the 1.6 3 pot GR Yaris unit is doing the rounds ,but we will see eventually,especially with the homologation rules etc.Few years back the 'Gen8 Celica' turned out to be not that,it was the GT86.And we all know the handbag fights regarding the Supra being a BMW and not a proper Toyota etc so I'm sure that will rear its head at some point as nothing these days is all 'in house',is it. But still,the Celica has a cast iron rally heritage and hearing the name again on the rally scene is great.

IMG-20260902-WA0056 by D Sherv, on Flickr

This is mine,one things for sure any 'new' Celica won't look like that !

Edited by BEAMS 162 on Wednesday 4th November 16:23

Edited by BEAMS 162 on Wednesday 4th November 16:24

[Mabbs9]

Great news. Bring it on.

[Twinair]

There’s a lad I see hooning around the local town centre loop in his old school GT4 Celica, he like I, (like many will..!) will be very glad if a showroom model happens…!!

[Clad-Hach]

Apparently the new 2L in line four has been engineered to be used in both transverse and longitudinal layouts.

So the new road going Celica might be front engined and rear driven or four wheel drive...who knows, but I like the idea of both.

I can't wait to see what is coming especially the much rumored MR2...can you just imagine how good its going to be.

[Mr E]

Excellent. I could have had a kid and have him get to the point he’s left home between the generations.

It’s weird being the same age as old folk.

[FoolsErrand]

Around the turn of the millenium my recollection was that there was nothing in the entire Toyota UK range of any interest at all. Top to bottom it was dull as hell. Now they are almost the only manufacturer that are into performance cars in the way that other brands were back then, with all the rest either giving up or turning into fashion brands.

[BEAMS 162]

Mr E said:

Excellent. I could have had a kid and have him get to the point he s left home between the generations.

It s weird being the same age as old folk.

Amen to that Mr E

[BEAMS 162]

Twinair said:

There s a lad I see hooning around the local town centre loop in his old school GT4 Celica, he like I, (like many will..!) will be very glad if a showroom model happens !!

I'm of the age where I don't do 'hooning'. I drive 'enthusiastically', don't you know,ha.
Fair play to the lad though

[GreatScott2016]

Never been a fan of the Celica in general, but this has to be good news for rally fans, and also, hopefully, a new road car to come!

[otolith]

Good news for those markets which will get it.

[Trevor555]

Bought this one for my dads 60th birthday gift.

He kept it 9 years, until he could no longer get in, and out of it.



Looking forward to seeing the new one, a mid engine car I've heard??