New Celica in 2006, Just read it in a JPN magazine Options

[ST-204]

Toyota gonna release the 8th gen Celica in 2006, the toppest model in the line is a 250hp with 2AZ-GTE engine GT-4.
The concept car had already been showed in Australia auto show before.

For me, I don't think that is a good hp for 8th generation Celica, because of Japan has already cut off the limited 280hp rule, there are so many car manufacturers gonna release their flag-ship's car in about 320-350hp later, such as EVO IX is about 320hp, WRX Sti should be 330hp, and also Nissian S16 is 280hp. As a result, the lastest Celica should have at least 300hp in my mind!!

Do u guys agree with it??

[neophile]

The Sportivo Coupe concept was reviewed in a NZ magazine a few months ago - the reviewer actually test drove it and got all his information from the car's creators - Toyota Australia.


Here is some of the info from the article:

The Sportivo Coupe Concept Car was test driven at the Melborne Motor Show by Bruce Newton and reviewed in New Zealand Autocar - June 2004 (page 48-54)

"The Sportivo Coupe is a concept car worth over $1 million dollars and was created in Australia.

It is a true concept. Maybe some ideas and elements will eventually appear somewhere but you'll never see a Sportivo Coupe on Auckland's southern motorway (or any other highway).

It is very much a flag waving exercise for Toyota Australia as it seeks to introduce itself to a new, youger generation - so much so that many of the ideas which shaped the car and its functions originated in a series of information-gathering exercises involving around 100 14-18 year old teenagers. The teens were first sampled to gain their initial thoughts on the positives and negatives of their lifestyles, and then were recalled about three weeks later to give their thoughts on the 30-40 exterior and interior designs developed by Toyota Australia based on their input.

The Sportivo came together in just 30 weeks and was approved in July after Toyota Australia wanted another project following their first successful concept car the X-Runner in 2003

The mechanical basis of Sportivo is from the Japanese Camry (Hokkaido-spec) and features the same constant four wheel drive system as the RAV4. The 4 speed automatic gearbox has been swapped out for a 5 speed manual (this necessitated a change of the rear differential to match it).

Toyota Australia supplier APS was commissioned to seriously pep up the familiar 2AZ-FE 2.4 litre inline four-cylinder engine. This they did courtesy of a Garrett GT25 turbocharger, intercooler and custom exhaust system among other improvements. The Sportivo pumps out 180KW at 560rpm and 305Nm at 4500rpm - that's without any attention paid to the engine internals and only rudimentary ECU re-mapping.

The Sportivo Coupe Concept made the Melborne, Adelaide and Perth motor shows and is now off to Japan for a first-hand inspection at Toyota headquarters, then it goes to the Middle East for a tour of Toyota Australia's most important export market".


As for future Evo's (from Sept 2004 NZ Performance Car Magazine): As the natural successor to the Evolution XIII MR, the Evo IX is estimated to make its JDM debut in 2005. However Mitsubishi Head Office high ranking officials seem hell-bent on hyping the Evo X, even though it doesn't look set to break cover until 2007.

The Evolution X, a concept picture of which was recently flashed on a big screen at an unrelated Mitsubishi press conference, will take on a fresh look and run on a new 4wd chassis arrangement. Whether or not the X will use the 4G63T engine that's been in action right from the very start of the Evolution series seems unclear.

This post has been edited by neophile: Aug 7, 2004 - 8:19 AM