The Toyota Celica is coming back, and Toyota has finally confirmed the name for its long-rumoured mid-engined sports car. Rather than reviving the MR2, the Japanese brand is leaning on the Celica’s World Rally Championship pedigree. The badge is returning to the stages first, and the road car will follow.
Toyota Celica Takes The Rally Stage
Toyota will field two Rally1 cars next year, a GR Yaris for Gazoo Racing and a GR Celica for Toyota Racing. The 2027 regulations use a tubular steel structure, so the bodyshell can be whatever the manufacturer wants. On paper, that means no showroom Toyota Celica is required. In reality, the naming choice signals intent, and Toyota clearly wants that rally heritage attached to its new sports car. Our Toyota and Mercedes coverage shows how sharply the brand now needs to compete.
Power will come from the G20E, a turbocharged unit about 10 percent smaller than the 2.4-litre engine in the GR86. Toyota is targeting more output and better efficiency, and our prototype ride suggested around 400 hp. The engine sits transversely behind the seats, likely paired with the GR Yaris eight-speed automatic. Expect all-wheel drive, too, because Toyota believes the mid-ship layout suits high-performance driving best.
| ⚙️Engine / Powertrain | G20E turbocharged four-cylinder, transverse (est.) |
| 🐎Power Output | 400 hp (est.) |
| ⚡Peak Torque | Not confirmed |
| ⏱️0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) | 0-60 mph in 3.5s (est.) |
| 🚀Top Speed | 155 mph (est.) |
| 🔄Drivetrain / Gearbox | 8-Speed Automatic / AWD |
| 💰Starting Price / Est. | £60,000+ (est.) |
Playful Handling Beats The GR Yaris
Driving impressions point to a sharper, more playful character than the GR Yaris. The mid-engined layout reduces understeer, and the car rotates into corners with real confidence. On loose gravel, the tail wants to step wide, but the longer wheelbase keeps it controllable. Even so, the Toyota Celica will need to prove itself against seasoned rivals.
Pricing Pushes Into Serious Territory
Pricing is where the business case gets interesting. Expect the new coupe to start above £60,000, which puts it in direct competition with established European sports cars. Used GR86 models from £30,000 and Supras from £35,000 already frame the market. Ultimately, the mid-engined layout and rally name could make it a future enthusiast favourite.
Toyota has finally put a name on its mid-engined ambitions, and the Celica badge carries serious weight. The real test will be whether the car arrives in time to challenge its rivals on price and performance.
Liam Campbell
Industry Intelligence & News Editor at Auto News Magazine. Tracking prototype spy shots, Nürburgring development mules, automaker corporate moves, and breaking global automotive scoops.
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