toyota gr rally prototype seen leaving celica clue crumbs in spainGazoo Racing is out in the wild putting its next-generation rally car through its paces. Fresh spy photos captured during high-speed testing on the gravel stages of Tarragona, Spain, give us our clearest look yet at the two-door coupe expected to replace the dominant GR Yaris Rally1 for the 2027 World Rally Championship season.All signs point to the glorious return of the Celica nameplate.2028 Toyota Celica Sport: Everything We Know2028 Toyota Celica Sport: Everything We KnowAfter 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.AutoGuide.com StaffAutoGuide.com Stafftoyota gr rally prototype seen leaving celica clue crumbs in spainThe prototype first broke cover back in early 2026 during shakedown runs in Portugal. This new evolution wears Gazoo Racing's signature red, black, gray, and white camo wrap, but test driver Ott Tänak parked the car right near onlookers, giving photographers an up-close look at the aggressive aero package.Up front, the prototype sports sleek LED headlights in Toyota's hammerhead style, flanked by an obligatory hood scoop, heat-extraction vents, and a massive lower intake. The side profile screams rally coupe, with heavily flared widebody fenders with huge openings to accommodate a WRC car's 10 inches of suspension travel, plus chunky side skirts.In the back, a fastback roofline terminates in an integrated lip spoiler supporting an enormous fixed rear wing, accompanied by full-width rear taillight trim that seems to have a family resemblance to the GR 86, along with a center-exit exhaust pipe.While Toyota has not officially uttered the word Celica just yet, reviving the iconic badge makes total sense. The brand bagged two manufacturers' titles and four drivers' championships with previous GT-Four iterations during its 1990s WRC glory days. However, prospective buyers should keep their expectations in check regarding how much hardware the race car shares with the upcoming showroom floor model. Under 2027 WRC rules, the rally car utilizes a standardized tubular spaceframe chassis paired with a control 1.6-liter turbocharged engine.The street-legal production model, on the other hand, is expected to sit on a version of Toyota's TNGA architecture, drawing power from Toyota's newly developed 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine slinging output through a performance-tuned all-wheel-drive system. So whatever this car is, it won't be the same as a showroom stock Celica.Expect Gazoo Racing to officially unveil the finalized 2027 WRC rally car in the coming months. As for the road-going GR Celica, a near-production concept previewing the street car could debut in early 2027 ahead of a full production rollout.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter.
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