Toyota's new rear-wheel-drive sports coupe could be called the Celica, autocar.co.uk has learned.
The concept version of the car, which is being co-developed by Toyota and Subaru and is due to go on sale in 2012, was unveiled at this week's Tokyo motor show.
The concept, badged FT-86 in homage to the Toyota Corolla AE-86 GT, is being developed to increase the company's credibility among young Japanese buyers.
As a result, the Celica name is reported to be being evaluated by Toyota as its history resonates with its target audience. However, no final decisions on the name have bene made.
Toyota has charge of the car's concept and design, while Subaru is supplying hardware including the engine, six-speed gearbox and possibly suspension. The car will also be built at Subaru factories, as it has spare capacity at present.
However, the car, which engineers describe as front mid-engined because the engine is so short and can be cited so far back, sits on a new rear-drive platform, which can be adapted to four-wheel drive, an option Subaru is said to be evaluating.
The short, low engine has other benefits; designers suggest that it will allow them to apply a radically low bonnet line on the car, giving it strikingly different looks.
Speculation at the Tokyo motor show suggested the car will be powered by both normally aspirated and turbocharged versions of improved Subaru engines, and be priced to undercut the rival Nissan 370Z at a starting price of around £22,000.
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Re: New Toyota may be called Celica
I'm sure it will look much better when we've seen the Subaru version.
Re: New Toyota may be called Celica
You obviously place a lot of importance on seat number! End of the day it differs quite a bit to the latest gen of both celica and mr2... Maybe more like on of the early generations of celica might be a good match.
Re: New Toyota may be called Celica
All the statements which have originated from Autocar's HQ, or camp if they prefer that, declare it to be a show stealer or almost an equivalent; whereas, all the pictures which have been made available suggest that this vehicle has the potential to look a lot better than the way it already does. If this feeling is down to bad photography, then I can only say that they should try to find a person interested in doing justice to the Toyota brand. On the other hand, if it looks just the same in reality too, then if people at Toyota are planning to make it a permanent part of their line up, it really has the potential to evolve into an enticing proposition which at the moment has the potential but needs a more level headed approach to styling.