The World Rally Championship (WRC) has revamped its regulations for 2027 in a bid to lower costs and encourage more participation.
However, Toyota is the only manufacturer to publicly commit for now and is already testing in Portugal but their new camouflaged machine looks nothing like the Toyota GR Yaris used previously. Is this our first look at the all-new Toyota GR Celica?
That Toyota will be reviving the legendary nameplate is not news but we have yet to see any indication of its design, until now Toyota whipped out its new WRC challenger in testing.
The images and videos by Marcio Pereira on social media show an unidentified coupe barreling through the gravel. With the dust and low resolution, it is difficult to make out the model but one thing is for sure, that is no GR Yaris.
At first glance, it appears as a high-riding coupe crossover in the mould of the C-HR. Look a little closer and you will notice the obvious coupe shape but with taller shoulders. It is unlikely to be the new GR86 given that rallying requires all-wheel drive. Logically, this must be the new Celica.
Toyota has been working on the Celica and MR2, developing a new 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine known internally as the G20E for the latter while a more compact version is slated to run the Celica. The engine is suitable for use in performance cars and even heavy-duty applications.
Engineers are said to be aiming for 395 PS in the G20E but are confident that 600 PS is attainable with a larger turbo even with no hybrid assistance. However, the compact version in the Celica would likely make in the region of the high 200s. Given that the new WRC regulations have ditched the complex and expensive hybrid systems, the G20E’s development looks to be spot on.
If this is indeed the Celica, that would mean Toyota will carry an extensive portfolio of performance models over the coming years. We expect the GR Yaris and GR Corolla to return, followed by the third-generation GR86 with a turbocharged engine and a new non-BMW Supra. Add in the Celica and MR2, and you have a dream team of sports cars. Last but certainly not the least by a considerable margin is the Toyota GR GT halo car.
For now though, we will have to make do with what we see in the images above. All will be revealed however by the end of the year prior to the 2027 Rally Monte Carlo.
This does remind us though of the time Toyota paid homage to the fire-breathing WRC Celica’s from the 90s with the GR86 Rally Legacy Concept.
It fused a GR86 exterior with the complete drivetrain from a GR Corolla, to tease what the new Celica could be. The G16E-GTS 1.6-litre engine, GR-Four all-wheel drive and six-speed manual were made to fit into the coupe. Finished in the iconic Castrol livery over the Halo White body, it was a fitting tribute to that era but it looks like we are close to bringing back the good times again and custom rally fog lamps again.
