this was posted over on celica.net

http://celica.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb...c;f=6;t=015521

apparently the new issue of motor trend (which i havent got my hands on yet) said that toyota will not produce the celica here in the US anymore.

this is surprising, especially with a new supra supposedly to be coming very soon....

 

The next-gen Celica will most likely come to the US with a numerical designation and be badged as a Scion.

Hopefully this means the next gen-supra will have a base price in the mid-to-upper-$20's with a normally-aspirated V6 while a fully loaded v8 or turbo-v6 with all the bells and whistles will be in the low $40's

 

Apparently Toyota is dissatisfied with the Celica, as it adds just a bit too much spirit and style to an otherwise mind-numbing lineup.

This is a pretty interesting move. Perhaps it will be replaced by a car with a new name (like Cavalier -> Cobalt)? I can't see young Celica owners switching to Corollas.

 

johnsocal: i heard they want to replace it with a US version of the caladina... basically a matrix, but with AWD and the 3s-gte power plant (2.0l turbo powerplant, same as in old celica all trac and MR2 turbo... just updated of course)


many of the import "tuners" shy away from the celica, basically because there isn't much that can be done with it. forced induction is out of the question because of its tiny engine bay, (all though there are a few kits, but they are very expensive), and the high compression in the GT-S and their aluminum blocks

 

I wonder what Lotus is gonna do with the USA version of the Elise which uses the Celica's drivetrain

 

im sure it will still use it, as the matrix xrs and pontiac vibe, and also the MRS use it also....

 

In fact here's a pic of the rear of the 2005 Scion TC (sport coupe) - http://t.wieck.com/PV/2003/12/01/TYT...0133345_PV.jpg

 

how would it make any difference? Lotus is Toyota's engine customer here, not the end user, so unless Lotus changes its mind about it (unlikely, since they've spent so much time/money on fitting it into the Elise), there should not be any concern for the end user.

 

I think the newness wore off the Celica and it does make sense for Toyota to place a youth-attracting coupe under the the Scion label (if that's still that brand's goal).

Nowadays, there is an ever-increasing selection for affordable cars that appeal to the tuner crowd, most with growing legitimacy in the performance department.

Goes to show, doesn't take long for even the "out-there" designs to grow old if no one keeps talking about them.

 

Celica's been around for a long time. When was it introduced? 1978 or so?

 

Celica was introduced in Japan in 1970 and first imported to the U.S. in 1971. The second Gen. Celica was introduced in 1978 and was "import car of the year" that year. Current Celica is 7th Gen, which is kind of crazy when you consider that only 3 generations of Camaro were produced in the same time frame - '70-2000.

 

Celica's being replaced by a Scion sports coupe. Toyota will be getting another sports car (Supra??).

You'll still be able to walk into your Toyota dealer and purchase the Celica's replacement, it will just be under a different name brand, that's all.

 

Would you guys bet it will just be a new body or a totally new car under Scion? I would throw my money on new body.

 

Yup...I think so too. Same Scion chassis, different body.

 

The current Scion xA and xB are, essentially, Echo based, aren't they? How sporting can that platform be made to be?