Next-Gen Toyota GT86 To Be Renamed Celica?

Khodrocar - Toyota could resurrect the legendary Supra and Celica sports duo if a recent trademark filing by the automaker is anything to go by. As you may already know, the new Supra is currently under development in cooperation with BMW, while the recent filing for the Celica moniker suggests Toyota might bring it back to life as well.

As far as we are aware, there are a couple of options for the Celica name at the moment. One possibility is that a new coupe may be launched to take the position of an entry-level sports car for the brand. Just like the late Celica models, it will be powered by the front wheels, riding on the company’s new TNGA architecture.

Another option - Toyota might rename the next-generation GT86 and call it Celica. According to Car and Driver, that’s unlikely to happen, but we actually bet our money on it, because Celica is much more established name worldwide than 86 or GT86.

Of course, the Japanese manufacturer may simply put the Celica badge on a concept car, such as a study previewing the next generation GT86. On the other hand, if we take Mitsubishi as an example with its Eclipse Cross SUV, Celica could be the name of Toyota’s next crossover.

As for the new GT86, it was already confirmed to arrive in 2019. At this point, continued partnership on the project with Subaru looks likely, but there’s still nothing official.

"Will it be with Subaru?” Toyota Europe boss Karl Schlicht commented last year. "I don’t know. But for the concept to carry on, with the low engine, we’d have to do that. There are a lot of reasons to continue with Subaru.”

Source: motor1.com