Category Archives: NEW CARS

2027 Toyota Celica: Everything We Know About the Legendary Sports Coupe’s Possible Return

Toyota is preparing to revive one of its most recognizable sports cars, with the legendary Celica reportedly set to return for an eighth generation more than two decades after the previous model disappeared from showrooms. Positioned as a new entry point for Toyota’s expanding Gazoo Racing performance family, the next-generation Celica could become one of the most significant sports-car revivals of the decade.

Although Toyota has yet to confirm a production timeline, the potential return of the Celica fits perfectly with chairman Akio Toyoda’s long-standing ambition to bring back what he affectionately calls the brand’s “three brothers”: the Supra, MR2 and Celica.

With the Supra already revived and a new mid-engine MR2 apparently moving closer to production, attention is increasingly turning toward the Celica.

Toyota Celica Revival Could Complete the “Three Brothers”

The Celica has been absent from Toyota’s lineup since the seventh-generation model ended production in 2006. Its return would therefore mark a major moment for enthusiasts who remember the nameplate as one of Toyota’s most important affordable performance cars.

The Supra has already returned, developed jointly with BMW, while Toyota is believed to be working on a new MR2. That leaves the Celica as the final piece of Toyoda’s sports-car strategy.

Unlike the Supra, however, the Celica is expected to occupy a more accessible position within the lineup. Rather than competing directly with high-performance sports cars, the new model could serve as an entry-level GR product positioned beneath the Supra and the upcoming GR GT supercar.

That would give Toyota a three-tier performance portfolio: an affordable sports coupe, a mid-engine MR2 and a flagship Supra/GR GT family at the higher end.

2027 Toyota Celica Could Have a Strong WRC Connection

One of the biggest clues pointing toward the Celica’s return comes from Toyota’s World Rally Championship program.

A prototype being used to develop Toyota’s 2027 WRC challenger has reportedly been spotted wearing a dramatic new two-door body. While next-generation WRC regulations will no longer require rally cars to closely resemble production vehicles, using a Celica-inspired body would provide Toyota with an obvious marketing opportunity.

It would also reconnect the Celica with one of the most successful chapters in its history.

Toyota previously used Celica-based rally cars extensively during the World Rally Championship era, with the Celica GT-Four becoming particularly famous for its combination of four-wheel drive, turbocharged power and rally-winning performance.

Toyota won the 1993 and 1994 WRC manufacturers’ championships with Celica-based machinery, making the nameplate synonymous with Toyota’s rally heritage.

A modern Celica competing in the WRC would therefore be more than a marketing exercise. It would represent a return to the model’s historical roots.

New Celica Expected to Share Technology With the Corolla

The next Toyota Celica is expected to use mainstream Toyota components beneath its sports-car body, following a formula employed by previous generations.

The most logical donor could be the next-generation Corolla.

Toyota previewed a radical new Corolla concept at the Tokyo motor show, suggesting that the company’s best-selling compact model is about to enter a new design and engineering era. A two-door Celica derived from the same architecture would allow Toyota to spread development costs across multiple models while creating a distinctly more emotional interpretation of the platform.

This approach would also put the Celica in direct competition with the Honda Prelude.

Like the proposed Celica, the Prelude takes the basic architecture and technology of a mainstream Honda model and transforms it into a stylish two-door sports coupe. The rivalry between the Toyota Celica and Honda Prelude could therefore become one of the most interesting Japanese sports-car battles of the coming years.

Toyota Celica Sport Could Become a GR Entry Model

Toyota is reportedly considering the internal name “Celica Sport” for the new coupe.

If production goes ahead, the model could become one of the least extreme ways to enter Toyota’s GR performance range. Instead of focusing exclusively on outright performance, the Celica could combine sporty handling and styling with everyday usability.

That positioning would make sense for Toyota’s broader performance strategy.

At one end of the range sits the GR Yaris, a compact performance hatchback with a strong motorsport connection. Above it could be the new Celica, offering a traditional two-door coupe experience. Further up the range sits the Supra, while Toyota’s forthcoming GR GT is expected to occupy the supercar category.

The result would be a much broader GR lineup than Toyota offered just a few years ago.

New Toyota Celica Engine: What Could Power It?

One of the biggest unanswered questions concerns the powertrain.

The new Celica is expected to use a 2.0-liter engine rather than the three-cylinder unit found in the current GR Yaris. Toyota GR marketing manager Mikio Hayashi has previously indicated that the three-cylinder engine may not be able to satisfy future emissions requirements in some road-car applications.

That opens the door for Toyota’s next-generation 2.0-liter engine.

The same engine family is reportedly being considered for the new MR2, where packaging requirements are particularly important. Toyota has also been developing smaller, more efficient engines designed specifically to fit low-slung vehicles while maintaining useful cabin space.

For the Celica, the 2.0-liter engine could be paired with hybrid technology.

Toyota has not confirmed whether the system would be a conventional hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, but the next-generation Corolla is expected to offer both technologies. Sharing components between the Corolla and Celica would therefore make considerable financial and engineering sense.

The exact output remains unknown, but a combination of a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and electric assistance could give the Celica substantially more performance than its mainstream underpinnings might initially suggest.

Four-Wheel Drive Expected for the New Celica

Regardless of the final engine and hybrid configuration, four-wheel drive is reportedly expected to be part of the new Celica’s formula.

That would be a significant advantage if Toyota wants the car to maintain a genuine performance identity.

All-wheel drive would also connect the new model with the Celica’s rally heritage, particularly the legendary GT-Four models that became icons among performance-car enthusiasts.

However, Toyota has not indicated whether it plans to revive the GT-Four name.

That decision could ultimately depend on how aggressively the company positions the new Celica. If the model becomes a genuine high-performance GR coupe, the GT-Four badge would be an obvious way to connect it with Toyota’s rally history. If it is instead positioned as a more affordable and efficient sports coupe, Toyota may choose a completely new naming strategy.

The Celica Could Be Toyota’s Answer to the Honda Prelude

The potential return of the Celica comes at an interesting time for the Japanese sports-coupe market.

For years, affordable Japanese performance coupes virtually disappeared as manufacturers concentrated on SUVs, crossovers and electrification. The return of models such as the Honda Prelude suggests that there may still be demand for stylish two-door cars with relatively accessible pricing.

A new Celica would give Toyota an opportunity to compete directly in this emerging niche.

The key will be finding the right balance between performance, efficiency and price. A hybrid-assisted four-wheel-drive coupe could deliver impressive acceleration and traction while remaining significantly more practical and affordable than exotic sports cars.

Celica Name Carries Serious Heritage

Few Toyota names carry as much motorsport and enthusiast credibility as Celica.

The model first appeared in 1970 and evolved through seven generations, moving from a relatively simple compact coupe into increasingly sophisticated performance machines. The Celica GT-Four in particular became an icon thanks to Toyota’s success in international rallying.

The seventh-generation Celica adopted a different philosophy, becoming lighter and more economical while offering a sharper, more youthful character. Production ended in 2006, leaving Toyota without a traditional affordable sports coupe for many years.

The eighth-generation model could therefore combine the best elements of several generations: compact dimensions, a low-slung coupe body, modern hybrid efficiency, four-wheel drive and genuine GR performance.

When Will the New Toyota Celica Arrive?

Toyota has not officially committed to a launch date for the production Celica.

The appearance of a two-door prototype connected to development of Toyota’s 2027 WRC car has nevertheless increased speculation that the Celica could eventually return.

The 2027 WRC regulations are particularly interesting because rally cars will no longer need to use bodywork directly derived from current production models. That means Toyota could technically choose almost any silhouette for its competition car.

Using a Celica design would nevertheless be an attractive option if Toyota intends to relaunch the nameplate around the same time.

For now, the timing remains unconfirmed, and Toyota has not released final specifications, pricing or production details.

2027 Toyota Celica: What We Expect

If the reported plans become reality, the next-generation Toyota Celica could have a very different character from the last model but remain faithful to the original concept.

Expected model: Toyota Celica Sport
Generation: Eighth generation
Likely positioning: Entry-level GR sports coupe
Likely engine: 2.0-liter four-cylinder
Hybrid: Expected, but not confirmed
Plug-in hybrid: Under consideration
Drive: Four-wheel drive expected
Transmission: Not yet confirmed
Rally connection: Strongly expected
WRC return: Possible from the 2027 season
GT-Four name: Not confirmed
Likely rival: Honda Prelude

A New Celica Could Be Exactly What Toyota’s GR Lineup Needs

The return of the Toyota Celica would represent far more than the revival of a famous badge.

It could give Toyota a sports coupe positioned between the increasingly performance-focused GR Yaris and the more expensive Supra, while providing a direct rival to the Honda Prelude. At the same time, a four-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain would allow Toyota to combine its motorsport heritage with the realities of modern emissions regulations.

Most importantly, the Celica could restore an affordable, relatively attainable Toyota sports coupe to the market.

With the Supra already back, the MR2 seemingly on the way and the GR GT set to become Toyota’s performance flagship, an eighth-generation Celica could complete Akio Toyoda’s vision of bringing the company’s legendary “three brothers” back to life.

For Toyota enthusiasts, that makes the possibility of a new Celica one of the most intriguing developments in the Japanese sports-car world.

Source: Toyota

Porsche 911 Challenge Is the New Entry-Level Race Car for Customer Motorsport

Porsche is expanding its customer motorsport lineup with a new race car that brings the company’s legendary 911 GT3 philosophy closer to drivers taking their first serious steps on a racetrack. Called the Porsche 911 Challenge, the new competition car will become Porsche’s entry-level model for one-make racing from the 2027 season.

Unlike the more specialized Porsche 911 Cup introduced in 2025, the new 911 Challenge retains a much stronger connection to the road-going Porsche 911 GT3. It combines production-derived technology with a comprehensive package of motorsport hardware, creating a race car designed to be fast, approachable and relatively easy for newcomers to understand.

The result is a machine positioned between a highly modified track-day car and Porsche’s more sophisticated customer racing models.

Porsche 911 Challenge Completes the 911 Racing Family

The arrival of the Porsche 911 Challenge gives Porsche an unusually coherent customer racing portfolio. From 2027, all four of the company’s GT racing cars will be based on the 911, creating a clear hierarchy within Porsche Motorsport.

The 911 Challenge sits at the bottom of the range as the entry point for customer racing. Above it is the Porsche 911 Cup, followed by the 911 GT4 R and, at the top of the range, the 911 GT3 R.

This structure allows drivers and teams to progress through different levels of competition without leaving the Porsche 911 family.

Porsche describes the Challenge as a modern interpretation of a philosophy that has been part of its customer racing program since the 1960s: providing customers with a race-ready car that comes with the necessary safety equipment, technical documentation, data acquisition and spare-parts support.

A Racing 911 Closely Related to the GT3

One of the defining characteristics of the new Porsche 911 Challenge is how much technology it shares with the production Porsche 911 GT3.

The car uses the high-revving 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six boxer engine derived largely from the road-going GT3. In racing specification, the engine produces 379 kW, equivalent to 515 PS, at 8,500 rpm.

The engine continues to rev to an impressive 9,000 rpm, preserving one of the defining characteristics of the modern GT3: a powertrain that rewards drivers who are willing to explore the upper reaches of its rev range.

Unlike many dedicated racing cars that rely on sequential gearboxes, the 911 Challenge uses a seven-speed Porsche PDK dual-clutch transmission.

That decision is significant because it makes the car more familiar to drivers who have experience with the road-going 911 GT3.

The driver can select either automatic or manual shifting, with gear changes controlled through steering-wheel paddles.

The racing exhaust system also receives a modified rear silencer and retains a catalytic converter. However, because the Challenge is a competition-only vehicle, it does not require a particulate filter.

515 PS and a 9,000-RPM Redline

The naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six remains the centerpiece of the Porsche 911 Challenge.

Its 515 PS output is not the headline figure by modern turbocharged sports-car standards, but Porsche’s approach is less about maximum horsepower and more about delivering a predictable, high-revving powertrain that can be exploited by drivers of varying experience levels.

The 9,000-rpm redline is particularly important. It gives the Challenge the kind of engine character that has become closely associated with Porsche’s GT3 models.

Rather than overwhelming a novice with extreme power, the 911 Challenge is intended to provide a progressive driving experience in which throttle application, braking and cornering technique remain central to lap-time performance.

Production-Based Technology Makes the Challenge More Accessible

Porsche has deliberately retained several systems from the road-going GT3 to make the transition into customer motorsport less intimidating.

The 911 Challenge features adjustable driver assistance systems including:

  • ABS
  • Traction control
  • Electronic Stability Control
  • Variable driving dynamics systems
  • Multi-stage Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus

The adjustable nature of these systems is particularly useful for racing schools and developing drivers.

A newcomer can begin with more electronic assistance and gradually reduce intervention as their skills and confidence improve. Experienced drivers, meanwhile, can tailor the car to suit track conditions, tire characteristics and driving style.

This makes the Porsche 911 Challenge fundamentally different from a stripped-down race car that expects the driver to understand every aspect of vehicle dynamics immediately.

Porsche 911 Challenge Gets Serious Racing Hardware

Although the Challenge uses significant production-based technology, Porsche has not compromised on its chassis specification.

The suspension incorporates motorsport-specific components, including shock absorbers with racing-specific characteristics and a three-position adjustable anti-roll bar.

The car runs treadless racing slicks mounted on 18-inch wheels. Porsche has also retained a five-hole wheel mounting pattern, following the approach used by the recently introduced 911 GT4 R.

The braking system is equally serious.

The 911 Challenge uses steel racing brake discs measuring 380 millimeters in diameter at both the front and rear. The brake technology is derived from the Porsche GT4 R, giving the entry-level 911 competition car hardware designed specifically for the demands of circuit racing.

GT3 Dimensions, Race-Car Bodywork

The Porsche 911 Challenge shares the same dimensions as the production GT3, while its major body components also follow the road car.

That gives the Challenge an important advantage for drivers transitioning from a road-going 911 GT3 to the race track.

Visually, however, the transformation into a competition car is unmistakable.

An adjustable rear wing can be mechanically set to four different positions, allowing teams to balance aerodynamic performance according to circuit characteristics.

The bonnet uses integrated quick-release fasteners, while a three-jack air-jack system is standard equipment, making pit-lane servicing significantly faster.

At the rear, a FIA-certified rain light provides an essential safety feature for racing in poor weather conditions.

Inside, the Porsche 911 Challenge Is All Business

The biggest transformation occurs inside the cabin.

Everything that isn’t necessary for racing has been removed. Sound-deadening materials, carpets and conventional interior trim are deleted to reduce weight and create a purpose-built competition environment.

In their place is a welded-in roll cage that increases structural rigidity while providing protection during a collision.

The driver sits in an adjustable racing bucket seat secured by a six-point harness.

A 110-liter FT3 safety fuel tank is also installed, while an onboard fire-extinguishing system provides another essential layer of protection.

There is no attempt to disguise the purpose of the vehicle. The Porsche 911 Challenge is not a road car modified for occasional track use. It is a dedicated competition machine.

Porsche 911 Challenge Has No Road Approval

That distinction is important.

The Porsche 911 Challenge is designed exclusively for circuit competition and does not have road approval. Porsche has therefore been able to remove many of the compromises required by a road-legal vehicle.

The result is a machine optimized for racing rather than commuting, touring or weekend road trips.

For customers, that means the Challenge can focus entirely on performance, safety, reliability and ease of operation at the circuit.

Designed for One-Make Porsche Racing

The new Porsche 911 Challenge will make its competitive debut from the 2027 season and is intended for use in numerous Porsche one-make racing series around the world.

Its primary home will be Porsche-branded championships such as the Porsche Challenges and Trophies.

That makes the car particularly relevant to drivers who want to enter organized motorsport without immediately committing to the expense and complexity of international GT competition.

Porsche is effectively creating a progression system within its customer racing ecosystem.

A driver can begin with the 911 Challenge, develop racing experience and eventually move into the 911 Cup, GT4 or GT3 categories.

How the Porsche Customer Racing Range Fits Together

Porsche’s customer racing lineup now covers a broad range of competition levels.

Porsche 911 Challenge

The entry-level model is aimed at racing newcomers and experienced amateur competitors. Its production-based technology and adjustable electronic systems are intended to make it easier to learn and develop as a racing driver.

Porsche 911 Cup

The 911 Cup occupies the next level and competes in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Carrera Cup championships and other Porsche one-make series. It is also used in endurance and open GT competition.

Porsche 911 GT4 R

The GT4 R is intended for international GT4 competition, one of the fastest-growing segments of global customer motorsport. It represents a significant step toward professional GT racing.

Porsche 911 GT3 R

At the top of Porsche’s customer racing hierarchy sits the 911 GT3 R, developed for international GT3 competition under FIA regulations.

The GT3 R has already established an impressive record, including class victories at Le Mans, World Endurance Championship success and titles in the DTM.

Its résumé was strengthened further with an overall victory at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in June 2026.

Porsche Wants More Drivers to Experience Motorsport

The philosophy behind the 911 Challenge is perhaps more important than its technical specification.

Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, describes the GT3 models as central to Porsche’s identity as a sports-car manufacturer and emphasizes their close connection to motorsport.

The Challenge expands that relationship by allowing a broader group of customers to experience a Porsche racing car.

Michael Dreiser, Head of Sales at Porsche Motorsport, highlights another advantage: the Challenge delivers the driving experience of the road-legal 911 GT3 in a customer racing environment while reducing the learning curve for new drivers.

That could prove to be one of the car’s greatest strengths.

A New Gateway Into Porsche Motorsport

For decades, Porsche has built a reputation for producing customer racing cars that are competitive without being inaccessible.

The Porsche 911 Challenge continues that tradition in a modern form.

Its combination of a naturally aspirated 515-PS flat-six, seven-speed PDK transmission, production-derived GT3 technology, adjustable electronic systems, racing suspension, slick tires and comprehensive safety equipment makes it an intriguing proposition for amateur racers.

More importantly, it gives Porsche customers a clear entry point into organized motorsport.

The 911 Challenge does not attempt to be the fastest Porsche racing car. Instead, it is designed to be the Porsche racing car that makes the most sense for drivers who are ready to take their first serious step onto the grid.

And that could make it one of the most important additions to Porsche Motorsport’s customer racing portfolio in years.

Porsche 911 Challenge: Key Specifications

Engine: 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six boxer
Maximum power: 379 kW / 515 PS
Maximum engine speed: 9,000 rpm
Maximum power rpm: 8,500 rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic
Brakes: 380-mm steel racing discs front and rear
Wheels: 18-inch racing wheels
Tires: Racing slicks
Fuel tank: 110-liter FT3 safety tank
Rear wing: Four-position mechanical adjustment
Safety: FIA-certified roll cage, six-point harness and fire-extinguishing system
Air jacks: Standard three-jack system
Road approval: No
Competition debut: 2027 season
Primary use: Porsche one-make racing and customer motorsport

Source: Porsche

Cadillac CELESTIQ Night Test: A One-of-One Luxury EV Built for Performance in the Shadows

Every champion is forged long before the spotlight arrives. The greatest performances are built away from the crowd, through countless hours of refinement, precision and obsessive attention to detail. Cadillac captures that philosophy with the new CELESTIQ Night Test, a one-of-one commission that transforms the brand’s flagship electric luxury sedan into an exercise in stealth, craftsmanship and exclusivity.

Making its public debut at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, during Monterey Car Week, the Cadillac CELESTIQ Night Test takes inspiration from the unseen preparation behind world-class performance. Rather than relying on visual drama for its own sake, this bespoke CELESTIQ adopts a darker, more restrained character designed to communicate confidence without demanding attention.

Cadillac CELESTIQ Night Test Takes a Stealthier Approach to Luxury

The defining feature of the CELESTIQ Night Test is its dark and highly disciplined visual theme.

Finished in Caspia Metallic paint, the one-off Cadillac presents a sophisticated appearance that changes dramatically depending on the surrounding light. The subdued exterior finish emphasizes the car’s sculpted proportions while giving the flagship EV a more mysterious presence.

Dark-finish 23-inch wheels reinforce the theme, adding a sense of visual weight and emphasizing the CELESTIQ’s low, planted stance. At the front, a Jade lighting bezel surrounds the headlamps with a dark treatment that helps diffuse the lighting signature rather than simply reflecting ambient light.

The result is a CELESTIQ that feels less like a traditional show car and more like a carefully engineered instrument designed to operate after the crowds have disappeared.

A Bespoke Cadillac CELESTIQ With a Purpose

Cadillac describes the Night Test concept through the analogy of an athlete or musician practicing in isolation. The idea is simple: exceptional performance is created through preparation that most people never see.

That philosophy translates particularly well to the CELESTIQ. Instead of using extravagant colors or excessive exterior detailing, the Night Test commission focuses on subtle contrasts, carefully selected materials and precision.

It is an approach that reflects the broader character of the CELESTIQ, Cadillac’s most technologically advanced production vehicle and a flagship designed around highly personalized customer specifications.

CELESTIQ Night Test Interior Is Designed Like a Precision Instrument

The understated exterior theme continues inside the cabin.

The interior combines Backen Black and Sheer Gray leather seating with carbon-fiber accents and brushed-metal details. Rather than creating an environment dominated by ornamentation, Cadillac has used contrasting textures and materials to give the cabin a technical, sophisticated character.

Carbon fiber introduces a motorsport-inspired element, while brushed metal adds a sense of mechanical precision. The combination with dark leather creates an atmosphere that is simultaneously luxurious and purposeful.

This is particularly important for the CELESTIQ because its cabin is intended to be more than simply a traditional luxury-car interior. Cadillac has positioned the vehicle as a highly individualized experience in which materials, colors and finishes can be selected to reflect the personality and expectations of each customer.

One-of-One Cadillac CELESTIQ Hand-Assembled in Michigan

Like every CELESTIQ, the Night Test commission was hand-assembled at Cadillac’s Artisan Center in Warren, Michigan.

The Artisan Center plays a central role in the CELESTIQ ownership experience. Each vehicle is created from an individually curated selection of colors, materials and finishes, allowing Cadillac to produce a vehicle that can be tailored far beyond the specifications of a conventional mass-produced luxury sedan.

The Night Test demonstrates how that approach can be used to create a genuinely singular automobile. Every exterior treatment and interior material contributes to the same visual concept, giving the vehicle a cohesive identity rather than simply adding individual customization options.

As a one-of-one commission, this particular CELESTIQ represents the extreme end of Cadillac’s personalization philosophy.

Cadillac CELESTIQ Represents the Brand’s Ultimate Technology Showcase

The CELESTIQ sits at the top of Cadillac’s vehicle lineup and serves as an expression of the brand’s vision for electric luxury.

Its significance extends beyond its status as an expensive flagship. Cadillac uses the CELESTIQ to demonstrate how advanced electric-vehicle technology, ultra-luxury craftsmanship and extensive personalization can coexist in a single vehicle.

The Night Test commission adds another dimension to that formula. Instead of presenting technology through a futuristic or flamboyant design, it uses restraint as its defining characteristic.

That makes the car particularly interesting in an increasingly competitive luxury EV market, where manufacturers are attempting to differentiate their most expensive electric vehicles through technology, design and exclusivity.

CELESTIQ Night Test Debuts at Monterey Car Week

The Cadillac CELESTIQ Night Test will make its debut at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, one of the headline events of Monterey Car Week.

The setting is appropriate for a vehicle built around craftsmanship and performance. Although the Night Test does not attempt to replicate a traditional race car, its design philosophy draws a parallel between motorsport preparation and bespoke automotive engineering.

Behind the finished vehicle is the same fundamental idea: exceptional results come from details that may not immediately be visible.

Cadillac’s Vision of Bespoke Electric Luxury

The CELESTIQ Night Test illustrates what Cadillac believes the future of ultra-luxury electric vehicles can look like.

Its significance is not simply in the Caspia Metallic paint, 23-inch wheels, Jade lighting details or carefully selected interior materials. Those elements matter because they work together to create a singular interpretation of the CELESTIQ.

For Cadillac, customization is ultimately about allowing customers to turn a technologically advanced flagship into something personal.

The Night Test does exactly that. It takes the CELESTIQ and strips away the need for theatrical excess, replacing it with dark finishes, technical materials and an atmosphere built around concentration and precision.

In a segment where luxury is often measured by how much a vehicle can display, the Cadillac CELESTIQ Night Test makes a different argument: sometimes the most convincing form of exclusivity is knowing that you do not need to shout.

Source: Cadillac