Toyota has officially confirmed the return of its legendary Celica nameplate. The news was unveiled at a public event at Toyota Stadium, held in conjunction with Rally Japan, where Toyota’s Executive Vice President, Yuki Nakajima, made the long-awaited revelation.
The announcement took many by surprise. When Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda was asked about the possibility of a new Celica, he tactfully redirected the question to Nakajima. Nakajima, in a candid response, said, “To be honest, there’s no sign of it right now. However, many within the company are eagerly anticipating Celica. So … I’m not sure if it’s okay to say this in a public forum, but we’re bringing back the Celica!”
The Celica, an iconic model in Toyota’s lineup from 1970 to 2006, went through seven generations before being discontinued. Reports suggest that the eighth-generation Celica might make its debut as early as 2025, potentially at the Tokyo Auto Salon. However, it’s expected that the first reveal will likely be a concept car rather than a production model.
Interestingly, Toyota may have hinted at this revival earlier through the GRIP anime series, where a teaser featured a board listing future sports cars, including the Supra MK6, Celica MK8, MR2 MK4, and GR 86 MK3.
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With the Celica’s return and rumors of other iconic sports cars like the MR2 making a comeback, Toyota seems committed to reviving its golden era of sports cars. Enthusiasts worldwide are hopeful these plans come to fruition. Toyota last sold a sports car bearing the name Celica in the United States in 2005.
Although rumors have floated around for several years that the moniker could return, that hearsay has picked up steam since late 2023, when Chairman Akio Toyoda said he wanted to revive the sports car. Now, we have the best evidence yet that the Celica is due for a reappearance, with a report from Japanese magazine Best Car directly quoting a Toyota executive as confirming the Celica’s return.
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In the automaker’s in-house anime series, GRIP, a whiteboard was shown in the background bearing the words “Celica Mk8,” implying a follow-up to the seventh-generation Celica that went off the market nearly two decades ago. If a new Celica truly is in the works, it’s unclear when it could arrive and what powertrain it would pack, but we don’t expect it to hit the road until at least 2027.
Fans of the Celica have been vocal about their excitement. Rumors about a comeback have swirled and were bolstered last October when Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda said he wanted to revive the car. Now it looks like an eighth-generation Celica really is in the works.
