Toyota Celica is a sports compact coupe built by Toyota from 1971 to 2006. Celica also has its high-performance version as Celica Supra until 1982 simply as Supra, this was the earliest Japanese car to compete the WRC in 1972 until scoring first championship in 1993. Although Carlos Sainz won twice in 1990 and 1992 with ST165, thus a starting of the dominance for the Japanese car which followed by Subaru and then Mitsubishi which all scored in the championship.
Celica body style often coupe, later expanded to convertible then a liftback-style coupe, a unique style from first-gen inspired from Ford Mustang. Drivetrain from first to third-gen uses an RWD, by fourth-gen becomes FWD then an AWD with the launch of Toyota Celica GT-Four until in sixth-gen a homologated variant to compete the newer Group A rally then scoring victory as stated above, Fourth-gen started to use liftback Celica GT-Four . Celica GT-Four powered a 2-litre turbocharged inline-4 exclusively with manual gearbox. Fifth-gen Celica has an odd looking on front-bumper, ST185 GT-Four has narrow and wide body version.
Sixth-gen Celica, bodywork is more rounded and rigid. ST205 GT-Four added a rear wing with an updated specification. An infamously in 1995 WRC. During the Rally Catalunya, WRC banned Toyota for illegal turbo restrictor that gives an additional 50-hp, Juha Kankunnen would have been contenion for the driver's championship. Hence, Toyota ban for one-year later replace by Corolla WRC which later win in 1999.
Seventh-gen Celica dropped GT-Four. Bodywork becomes more rigid engines comes two 1.8-litre with VVT-i, this later use in Lotus Elise which mid-mounted. Facelift version receives in mid-year production. In 2003 starts to downfall sales along the Toyota MR2, this led to premanently discontinue in 2006, MR2 in 2007.
Appearances[]
- In Series 40 (Old Top Gear), Jeremy Clarkson eliminates the sixth-gen Celica along the Honda Prelude (in last-gen) as the best coupe which in-favour of Alfa Romeo GTV6.