Toyota Registers GR Celica Trademark | Carscoops

      The eighth generation of the Celica is currently being developed by the Toyota Gazoo Racing division.

      Toyota Motor Corporation has recently registered a trademark for the GR Celica name in Brazil. Officials from the company have confirmed that the Celica will be returning to the lineup soon. The new model is expected to include a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that can generate up to 400 hp.

      The confirmation of the Celica's comeback means it will be available alongside the next-generation GR 86. A recent trademark filing suggests that this revived model will be named the GR Celica, aligning it with Toyota’s performance-driven GR series.

      The trademark application was submitted by Toyota Motor Corporation to Brazil’s National Institute of Industrial Property and Ministry of Economy, with the application date on January 15 and a publication date of February 4. Unfortunately, aside from the name itself, the filing does not provide any additional information regarding the upcoming eighth-generation sports car.

      Could There Be a Global Launch?

      Toyota acquiring the trademark in Brazil indicates that the GR Celica might be sold in South America, in addition to key markets like Japan and Europe. However, its availability will ultimately depend on Toyota’s broader strategy and whether the vehicle's powertrain complies with regional emissions regulations—both of which remain uncertain at this moment.

      The Celica's return has been speculated for years, despite the discontinuation of the seventh-generation model in 2006 without a direct successor. Toyota ultimately addressed the rumors in November 2024, when Vice President Yuki Nakajima stated at a public event in Japan: "We’re doing the Celica."

      A Powerful 400-HP AWD Turbo Coupe?

      The new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that Toyota is currently developing appears to be a strong contender for the GR Celica. Reports indicate it could generate up to 400 hp (298 kW / 406 PS) for road use. If this is the case, the powertrain will likely feature AWD, potentially utilizing the rally-inspired GR-Four system from the GR Yaris and GR Corolla hot hatches.

      Mid-Engine or Traditional Front-Engine Layout?

      Traditionally, all seven generations of the Celica produced from 1970 to 2006 have had a front-mounted engine. It would seem logical for the new model to continue this trend, but recent reports from Japan suggest that the GR Celica might instead adopt a mid-engine configuration. This speculation gained momentum after Toyota presented a mid-engine GR Yaris prototype at the Tokyo Auto Salon, initially thought to preview the next MR2.

      Japanese outlet Best Car has recently claimed that the Celica and MR2 successors are essentially the same vehicle. While this would be sensible from a research and development and cost-sharing standpoint, it contradicts an earlier remark from a Gazoo Racing driver alluding to an "MR-something."

      Additionally, an earlier teaser from the Toyota GRIP anime series included both the eighth-generation Celica and the fourth-generation MR2 within the brand’s future GR lineup. Nevertheless, Toyota officials have not confirmed the new Celica's powertrain configuration, leaving open the possibility that it might share development with the MR2.

      With no official launch date announced for Toyota's latest addition to the GR lineup, we will have to await further information later this year. In the meantime, the GR Yaris M Concept is expected to debut in racing at the Super Taikyu Series in July 2025, as Toyota continues to develop its mid-engine platform.