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Toyota + Subaru = Celica?

By Richard Read
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Side look of2005 Toyota Celica 3dr LB Manual (SE) Black

Side look of2005 Toyota Celica 3dr LB Manual (SE) Black

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Remember the Toyota Celica, that coupe preferred by tennis jocks, Tri-Delts, and recent divorcées? The company stopped cranking them out in 2005, but rumor has it that the sporty brand may be readying for a comeback--thanks, oddly, to Subaru.

For a while, we've heard that Toyota and Subaru were working on a car together--working name: "Toyobaru". Then last December, we learned that those plans were on hold. (Which was great, because seriously: "Toyobaru"?) Now one of Toyota's Euro honchos is hinting that the project is on again--and not only is it on, but it may lead to the relaunch of the Celica.


Though he's apparently being cagey about details, Thierry Dombreval, Director of Sales and Marketing for Toyota Europe, has said that Toyota will launch a new, affordable sport coupe in 2010, and sources in the know hint that Toyota will dust off the Celica name for it. (No indication yet what Subaru will call its version. We're crossing fingers that it's not Sulica or Celaru or anything else that sounds like an endangered vegetable.)

That's all we know at the moment, but we promise to keep you posted. If you've got more details--or a great Celica story--email us or post it in the comments below. Keep it PG-13, folks.

[sources: L'Automobile  (iffy Google translation here), via MotorAuthority]


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Comments (6)

  1. Matt Posted: 3/24/2009 7:19am PDT

    "AE86"

    This is the rumored AE86 replacement. I'm hoping for a rear-drive, hatchback, manual trans, high rev 4cyl car, under 2800lbs, with folding seats for decent cargo room and I'll sell my Infiniti G35.
     
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  2. Matt Posted: 3/24/2009 7:21am PDT

    "AE86 replacement"

    This is the rumored AE86 replacement. I'm hoping for a rear-drive, hatchback, manual trans, high rev 4cyl car, under 2800lbs, with folding seats for decent cargo room and I'll sell my Infiniti G35.
     
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  3. GJames Posted: 3/24/2009 8:30am PDT

    "ST?"

    I wonder if they will bring back the base ST version (secretarial transport)
     
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  4. Richard Posted: 3/24/2009 9:05am PDT

    "ST!"

    @GJames: I can't believe I'd never heard "secretarial transport" used in conversation before, but it's a PERFECT descriptor. Exactly the car Shelley Duvall would've driven in 3 WOMEN (even though she wasn't technically a secretary).
     
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  5. Matt Posted: 3/24/2009 11:20am PDT

    "Celica was interesting between 1970 and 1985"

    It was a front engine rear drive car from 1970 to 1985. Over the years it kept getting fatter and less interesting until it became a parody in 1986 with the switch to the FWD platform, meaning that most of the cars were secretaries cars with the exception of a few turbo awd cars. That meant the average post 1986 celica was boring and the enthusiast version became too expensive and competed with a higher class of sports car on price. Cheap electronic stability control enables a return to a basic, low weight, front engine, rear drive car that could be just the thing for the enthusiast on a budget. I just hope they make the body style day-to-day useful like a GTI and not too "sports coupe" like the hyundai genesis.
     
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  6. fb_82100996 avatar Richard Shanks Posted: 1/9/2013 10:32am PST

    How about the Subaru Supra?
     
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