Toyota Celica Revival

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【Summary】Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda expressed his desire to revive the Celica name, hinting at a possible return of the iconic model. However, he clarified that the decision is not solely up to him and that there are people within Toyota who may refuse the idea. Toyoda's references to a rally driver's success with the Celica and the recent revival of the Supra suggest a growing interest in bringing back famous nameplates from Toyota's past. Exact plans for the Celica revival are still unknown.

FutureCar Staff Oct 15, 2023 6:18 AM PT

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

The last Toyota Celica was produced in 2006, but it appears that the iconic nameplate may soon be making a comeback. Chairman Akio Toyoda himself hinted at the possibility during a livestreamed interview with the Toyota Times YouTube channel. However, he did mention that he no longer has the final say in such matters since stepping down as CEO.

During the interview, Toyoda initially hesitated when asked about the possibility of a new Celica, as he is now on the executive side of the company. However, he dropped some hints that could be seen as encouraging for Celica enthusiasts.

When asked if he had requested the return of the Celica, Toyoda replied, "Well, I have, but I don't know what name it will come out under." This statement seems to suggest that there is a possibility of the Celica returning.

However, Toyoda clarified that even as the chairman of Toyota, his request does not guarantee the revival of the Celica. He admitted that there are people within the company who may refuse his request. He mentioned previous instances where his ideas were not embraced by everyone, such as with the Prius.

Toyoda then referred to the event they were participating in, Rally Hokkaido, where Juha Kankkunen, a Finnish rally driver, had achieved great success with the Toyota Celica. He hinted at the significance of Kankkunen's involvement, leaving it up to the viewers to speculate.

With the recent revival of the Supra, there seems to be a growing interest in bringing back famous nameplates from Toyota's past. However, we will have to wait for further announcements from Toyoda and Toyota to find out their exact plans for the Celica.