NO 8TH GEN CELICA!!!! MOTORTREND REPORTS ITS TRUE!, WHAA? Options

[XE_Nathaniel]

The Death of the Celica may mark a new era of toaster vehicles as sales of the Celica slow. This is possibly due to the low price of the Z and the Celica's approching cost of the Z. Initially, Celica sales were up almost 230% from the 6G but sales have reportedly deteriorated.

The death of the Honda Prelude may of influenced Toyota's decision to eliminate the Celica for the 8th generation (in U.S. anyway). What will replace it? Most likely the xC...Toyota Caldina. (or the Corolla hatchback)

More as more develops...

-Nate

(I really really hope this ISN'T true)

[GeEkBoY]

I personally think Toyota missed the mark with the 7th gen Celica. Sure the performance of the GTS was marginally better than a 6Gc and the price was lower, however the formula was changing and Toyota pulled a reactive move. In the previous years, high RPM engines came in favor, so Toyota dropped the promise of high torque dropping the high displacement and not offering a turbo.

Toyota had the engine to become a killer in the market if they desired, but they refuse to be leaders in the market. ST215... Instead they followed to where the market was, not where it will be. It was a great hockey player who said you go to where the puck will be, not were the puck is. If you go to where the puck is, it will be gone by the time you get there. TRD superchargers are a quick fix to power problems but they are crude and not optimal. They are like the 4-barrel carbs of the 60's.


My forecast of were I would like Toyota to take the Celica in 2006/2007:

Combine the roots of the Celica with the near past of the Celica. Lightweight car (2700 lbs) 4 cylinder engine, rwd. GT with a 2.4 lt. NA engine 160 HP(can you say 2Z-FE???), GTS with a 240 HP 2.4 lt engine(8 psi on a 2Z-fe engine). This would not be that difficult, and would add a small premium to the GT level car switching to RWD, and the GTS would be less than an RX-8 but much faster. It could use standard components from the Camry, and would not require the high tech-solutions and problems of the 2ZZ-GE.

Am I a fool, or it this a solution that is too simple?
?

This post has been edited by GeEkBoY: Dec 5, 2003 - 12:28 AM