What is the origin of the Celica?
The Toyota Celica is a legendary sports car that has captured the hearts of automotive enthusiasts for decades. Its origins can be traced back to the early 1970s, when Toyota set out to create a sporty and stylish coupe that would appeal to a younger, more performance-oriented audience.
The Birth of the Celica
The Celica was first introduced in 1970 as a compact, rear-wheel-drive sports car. The initial design was inspired by the success of the Toyota Corolla, which had become a popular and reliable compact car. Toyota's engineers wanted to create a sportier version that would offer more power and a more engaging driving experience.
The Celica's design was a departure from Toyota's more conservative models, featuring a sleek, fastback-style body and a range of powerful engine options. Over the years, the Celica evolved, with each generation introducing new styling cues and performance upgrades to keep the car competitive in the rapidly changing sports car market.
The Celica's Motorsport Legacy
The Celica's sporty character and impressive performance made it a natural choice for motorsport competition. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Celica was a dominant force in various rally championships around the world, with drivers such as Björn Waldegård and Carlos Sainz piloting the car to numerous victories.
The Celica's success in motorsport not only cemented its reputation as a capable and reliable sports car but also helped to inspire a loyal following of enthusiasts who appreciated the car's blend of style, performance, and racing pedigree.
The Celica's Enduring Legacy
Despite being discontinued in 2006, the Celica's legacy lives on. The car's iconic design and impressive performance have made it a beloved classic among car enthusiasts, and its influence can be seen in the design of many modern sports cars.
Today, the Celica remains an important part of Toyota's heritage, serving as a testament to the company's commitment to producing exciting and engaging vehicles that capture the hearts of drivers around the world.
What is the origin of the word Celica?
The Celica name derives from the Latin word coelica meaning heavenly or celestial. In Japan, the Celica was exclusive to Toyota Corolla Store dealer chain.
What does Celica mean in Japanese?
Japanese for "crown". Celica. Spanish for "heavenly" or "celestial".
What was the old name for the Supra?
Celica Supra
For its first two generations of Supra, Toyota officially names its six-cylinder coupe the Celica Supra. In the beginning, the Supra was basically a six-cylinder Celica. To squeeze the Supra's larger engine into the smaller Celica, Toyota stretched the wheelbase by 5.1 inches and gave it a different front end design.
Why was Supra banned?
Because of significant shortcomings in its ability to maintain its reliability over time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decided to outlaw the Toyota Supra model year 1994.
What is the history of the Celica?
The Toyota Celica's history can be traced back to the first year of the decade, launching as a two-plus-two coupé derivative of the new Carina in December 1970 – a Liftback model followed from April '73 – and it was evident that Celica's styling was influenced by its American counterparts.
Why was the Celica banned?
During the 1995 World Rally Championship season, Toyota was caught using illegal turbo restrictor bypasses at the Rally Catalunya and were given a one-year ban by the FIA.
Is the Toyota Celica like a Supra?
From this point onwards, Celica and Supra diverged to become independent models on different platforms; Celica made the significant shift to front-wheel drive and Supra continued to refine the role of rear-wheel drive grand tourer in the expanding Toyota line-up.
What does Celica stand for?
Toyota names of models explained – Celica meaning
Fitting, then, that the name is Spanish for 'celestial'.
Was the Supra originally a Celica?
The styling of the original Supra was derived from the Toyota Celica, but it was longer. Starting in mid-1986, the A70 Supra became a separate model from the Celica. In turn, Toyota also stopped using the prefix Celica and named the car Supra.
Did the Celica become the Supra?
The styling of the original Supra was derived from the Toyota Celica, but it was longer. Starting in mid-1986, the A70 Supra became a separate model from the Celica. In turn, Toyota also stopped using the prefix Celica and named the car Supra.
