Celica to return in 2009 Options

[BloodyStupidDave...]

Further rumours that the Celica may rise from the ashes...

Automotive News is this week reporting that Toyota are going to bring back the Celica in 2009, pretty much re-itterating rumours from the start of the year (hybrid, 4WD option).

Channel 4 News expands upon these by guessing at what such a car might look like:
http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-sto...p?news_id=16733

In particular, several pundits thing that if there is a new Celica, it will be available in RWD and 4WD options, no FWD.

Speculation is that there will be a grand tourer version, a coupe version and a roadster version all based on the same chassis (and probably essentially the same chassis as another Toyta/Lexus model - IS-F?).

As a reminder, there have been a few concepts recently that could end up as the basis for a Celica.

FT-HS


LF-A


LW-S


Possible MR2 (spyshot)

[xs94st]

The other thing that worries me is the engine. Japanese cars seem a little obsessed with hybrid fuels and electric motors. I would hate to see the Celica name attached to an under-performing Celica shaped Prius. If they must go hybrid/electric for commercial reasons (CO2 emission offsetting, for example) then I hope they don't bring the Celica back in 2009, and that they wait until they can do it properly.

yep thats what im afraid of as well. the whole MPG idea that has spread across all car makers is a drain on all lower-priced autos. that is unless they keep one car primarily for performance, which is what most manufacturers do anyways.