Report: Did a Toyota exec finally confirm revival of Celica?

Celica: The next GR model?

After years of rumors, it looks like Toyota’s plans to bring back a revered nameplate as a GR model is finally coming true.

Toyota Motor Corporation Executive Vice President Hiroki Nakajima was in attendance at this year’s WRC Rally Japan, along with Chairman Akio Toyoda. And during a public interview hosted by Best Car, Vice President Nakajima has publicly declared the development of a new Celica.

The Japanese publication released the remarks to its page. While it reads in Japanese, the quotes translate to something like this:

Chairman Akio Toyoda (Morizo) was asked by Best Car, "Are you making the Celica?" Toyoda replied, "I can't answer that, but there's an executive there, so I'll ask him," he said, pointing to TMC Vice President Nakajima, who was standing next to the stage. Nakajima, who took the stage, answered, "To be honest, there is no sign of it right now. However, there are many people within the company who are eagerly awaiting the Celica. So...I'm not sure if it's okay to say this in a public forum, but we're doing the Celica!"

Toyoda was reportedly surprised by the statement, and said “Is everything okay? There are a lot of difficulties. Best Car wrote that Toyota is making the Celica, but you shouldn't believe that." Vice President Nakajima responded by saying, "They haven't said when it will be released, so it could be next year."

Nakajima’s remarks represent the first formal confirmation of a new Celica by a Toyota top executive. If the statements are indeed accurate, then the new Celica could be the first GR sports car to have Toyota’s new 2.0-liter, turbocharged engine paired with the brand’s GR-Four all-wheel-drive system.

Moreover, Toyota Gazoo Racing’s WRC team has appointed four-time world champion Juha Kankkunen as Deputy Team Principal. Kankkunen won his fourth WRC title with the Toyota Celica GT-Four back in the 90s, and could have been brought back to also assist in the development of the new model.

Toyota is yet to give an official press release with the Celica’s revival. But the way things are happening at the GR camp, there’s interesting times ahead.