Generative render created by AutoGuide.com StaffGenerative render created by AutoGuide.com StaffAfter decades of idle speculation, Toyota is officially bringing back one of its most cherished performance nameplates: the Celica. Reborn as the 2028 Toyota Celica Sport, the upcoming two-door coupe completes former chairman Akio Toyoda's dream of reuniting the brand's historic "Three Brothers" sports car family alongside the Supra and MR2.Here is everything we know about Toyota's next-generation sports coupe, breaking down its design, platform, powertrain, expected pricing, and debut timeline.Generative render created by AutoGuide.com StaffGenerative render created by AutoGuide.com StaffWhat Is The 2028 Toyota Celica Sport?The 2028 Toyota Celica Sport is an all-new compact sports coupe designed to slot between the lightweight GR86 and the high-end Gazoo Racing performance models. While Toyota's current performance offerings lean heavily on joint-venture partnerships-like the Subaru-co-developed GR86-the Celica Sport is an in-house project developed under Toyota's Gazoo Racing (GR) banner.AdvertisementAdvertisementTargeting rivals like the Honda Prelude, the Celica Sport aims to offer significantly more firepower and a far more aggressive enthusiast setup. Rather than being a soft, front-wheel-drive cruiser, the Celica Sport is engineered as a high-output, all-wheel-drive performance machine built for both daily driving and rally-bred track duty.Generative render created by AutoGuide.com StaffGenerative render created by AutoGuide.com StaffWhat Will The 2028 Toyota Celica Sport Look Like?Visually, the 2028 Celica Sport takes inspiration from both classic Celica liftbacks and modern Toyota concept cars. Design details point toward a long hood, low roofline, and wide rear fenders.Up front, expect a sharp, angular front fascia with Toyota's signature hammerhead lighting signatures, paired with aggressive lower grille mesh for cooling. The side profile will feature a tight, two-door liftback silhouette, giving homage to the 1990s All-Trac/GT-Four rally legends. Inside, the cabin will focus heavily on driver ergonomics, featuring low-slung bucket seats, an angled central touchscreen running Toyota's latest software, and physical controls for critical performance modes.Generative render created by AutoGuide.com StaffGenerative render created by AutoGuide.com StaffWhat Platform Will The 2028 Toyota Celica Sport Use?Unlike the mid-engine layout planned for the upcoming MR2 revival, the Celica Sport will utilize an adapted front-engine architecture based on Toyota's next-generation Corolla platform.AdvertisementAdvertisementBorrowing heavily from high-volume architecture gives Toyota the manufacturing scale needed to keep the coupe financially viable while maintaining high chassis rigidity. The platform is being heavily reinforced and widened for sports car duty, incorporating chassis bracing developed through Toyota's World Rally Championship (WRC) testing program.2028 toyota celica sport everything we knowWhat Powertrain Will The 2028 Toyota Celica Sport Have?Under the hood, the Celica Sport is ditching the 1.6-liter three-cylinder from the GR Corolla in favor of Toyota's newly developed G20E 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.To satisfy strict global emissions regulations while maximizing output, the turbo-four will be paired with a self-charging hybrid setup. Output estimates range anywhere from a healthy 300 horsepower on base trims up to a staggering 400 horsepower on flagship GR-badged models. Power will be routed through an evolved version of Toyota's GR-Four all-wheel-drive system, capable of variable front-to-rear torque distribution.Purists can also celebrate: reports indicate Toyota is engineering the hybrid powertrain to work with both an eight-speed automatic and a traditional six-speed manual transmission.Generative render created by AutoGuide.com StaffGenerative render created by AutoGuide.com StaffHow Much Will The 2028 Toyota Celica Sport Cost?While official MSRPs won't be revealed until closer to production, industry estimates place the 2028 Toyota Celica Sport right in the middle of Toyota's performance hierarchy:AdvertisementAdvertisementStandard Celica Sport: Estimated to start around $42,000 to $45,000.High-Performance GR Celica Sport (400 hp AWD): Expected to range between $48,000 and $52,000.This pricing would position the Celica slightly above entry-level offerings like the GR86 (~$32,000) while remaining far more accessible than top-tier super-sports cars.Generative render created by AutoGuide.com StaffGenerative render created by AutoGuide.com StaffWhen Will The 2028 Toyota Celica Sport Debut?Toyota is expected to reveal a near-production concept version of the Celica Sport late in 2026 or early 2027. The official production model will hit showroom floors as a 2028 model year vehicle, with sales anticipated to begin in mid-to-late 2027.AdvertisementAdvertisementBecome an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletterhere.
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