The last Toyota Celica rolled off the assembly line in 2006, but the storied nameplate may soon be making its triumphant return. That’s according to no less a source than Chairman Akio Toyoda. However, even he admits that he can’t make that decision unilaterally.
During a livestreamed interview with the Toyota Times YouTube channel in anticipation of the Rally Hokkaido, Toyoda was questioned about the possibility of a new Celica. Initially, he hesitated, noting that he was now on the executive side rather than the product side of the company since stepping down as CEO. However, he did drop some hints that could be seen as encouraging for Celica enthusiasts.
After a followup question from the host to clarify if Toyoda had put in a request to bring the car back, he said, “Well, I have, but I don’t know what name it will come out under,” as translated by Toyota. That sounds like a very good sign.
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However, the chairman clarified that even at his high position, a request does not necessarily mean that a new Celica is a certainty. After being asked if anyone would really refuse him at Toyota, he said, “Plenty would.”
“Some people are sick of hearing what [I have] to say,” Toyoda said. “I won on the Crown, but the Prius was claimed by people who didn’t want to side with me. I think it’s good that we became a product-centered company capable of having such discussions for the sake of making ever-better cars.”
Coming back to the Celica, he then referenced the event at which they were speaking. At Rally Hokkaido, Toyota invited Juha Kankkunen, a Finnish rally driver who went on to win multiple rallying titles at the wheel of a Toyota Celica.
“Kankkunen (who was invited to the demo run) is Mr. Celica. He was champion four times in the Celica,” said Toyoda, turning to the camera to say, “Now you can all have a think about why I’m using Kankkunen so much. See if you can guess!”
We certainly have a few guesses as to why that might be. With the return of the Supra, there seems to be growing interest in reviving famous nameplates from Toyota’s past. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait a little longer before we find out exactly what Toyoda and Toyota have in mind.
