Toyota Celica Revival

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【Summary】Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda has expressed his desire to revive the Celica name, hinting at the possibility of bringing back the iconic model. However, he emphasized that the decision does not rest solely with him and that a request does not guarantee its return. Toyoda mentioned the Finnish rally driver Juha Kankkunen, who had great success with the Celica, sparking speculation about the reasons behind his interest in the model.

FutureCar Staff Oct 14, 2023 4:19 PM PT

In a recent interview, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda expressed his desire to revive the Celica name, but he made it clear that the decision doesn't rest solely with him.

The last Toyota Celica was produced in 2006, but there are indications that the storied nameplate may soon make a comeback. Chairman Akio Toyoda himself hinted at the possibility. However, he acknowledged that he can't make the decision on his own.

During a livestreamed interview with the Toyota Times YouTube channel, Toyoda was asked about the possibility of a new Celica. Initially, he hesitated, pointing out that he is now on the executive side of the company since stepping down as CEO. However, he dropped some hints that could be seen as encouraging for Celica enthusiasts.

When the host asked Toyoda if he had requested the return of the car, he replied, "Well, I have, but I don't know what name it will come out under." This statement seems to be a positive sign.

However, the chairman clarified that even in his high position, a request does not guarantee the return of the Celica. When asked if anyone at Toyota would refuse him, he admitted that "Plenty would."

Toyoda explained, "Some people are sick of hearing what I have to say. 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."

Returning to the topic of the Celica, Toyoda mentioned the event they were attending, Rally Hokkaido. He highlighted the presence of Juha Kankkunen, a Finnish rally driver who won multiple rallying titles with a Toyota Celica.

Toyoda said, "Kankkunen is Mr. Celica. He was champion four times in the Celica. Now you can all have a think about why I'm using Kankkunen so much. See if you can guess!"

With the recent return of the Supra, there is growing interest in reviving famous nameplates from Toyota's past. However, we will have to wait to find out exactly what Toyoda and Toyota have in mind.