After it was teased by Toyota’s top brass that the Gazoo Racing (GR) sports car brand won’t lie dormant, reports from Japan seem to point to GR’s next move.
Japanese magazine Best Car, known for its industry insider scoops and digital renders of yet-to-be revealed cars, has published a short report saying that the Celica is next up on the new Toyota CEO’s hit list for revival.
With word from ‘Toyota officials’, the outlet reports that it’s highly likely the new CEO Koji Sato is serious about reviving the Celica after Sato had mentioned it at the All Japan Rally Championship earlier this year.
The Toyota Celica hasn’t been around since its seventh generation wrapped up in the mid-2000s, having over its years gone from a front-engine, rear- or all-wheel drive sports car to a front-driven coupe.
“If we were to start now, it would be a BEV sports coupe,” the insider told Best Car.
“A modern updated design would be powerful, while adding the image of the Celica of yesteryear.”
But if Sato has anything to do with it, the Celica might be more engaging than most electric cars.
“It’s a hobby of mine, a crazy thing,” he told Top Gear last year, when he was CEO of Lexus, when speaking about his work on a manual EV.
I’m looking for better engagement,” he continued, “even in an EV, I want another link from the car to the driver. It’s not just about efficiency. I love cars and want something different.”
“It uses the general knowledge of the LFA, but we want to express it in contemporary form. We want to express the excitement of the LFA in an electric vehicle. That’s the challenge we face.”
On top of that, outgoing Toyota CEO and member of the brand’s namesake family, Akio Toyoda, is still around as Chair of the board, and has more free time to help develop sports cars.
Toyoda is known as ‘Master Driver’ among Toyota personnel for his driving ability and passion for sports cars.
“Our Master Driver was also President of the company at the same time as he had a steering wheel in his hand for Gazoo,” Sato said last week when speaking to Autocar.
“Now he is only Chairman, maybe he will have a lot more time to develop cars for them?”
It’s a promising pairing, the former CEO who built the GR brand and led development of its models, alongside the new CEO who helped create the Lexus LFA when leading that brand.
Whatever form the Celica takes, if Sato’s wish comes true, Toyota isn’t going to let it be boring.
Keyword: Classic comeback? Toyota boss says "I want to revive the Celica" and it could be an electric sports car to take on the MG Cyberster - report