Tag Archives: Toyota

NEW CARS, Uncategorized

Toyota GR KART Brings Affordable, Family-Friendly Karting to Japan

Toyota Gazoo Racing is taking a different approach to growing motorsports. Rather than starting with a faster road car or a more powerful race machine, the Japanese automaker is focusing on something much smaller: a kart designed to make getting into racing easier for children, parents and newcomers.

The Toyota GR KART has officially launched nationwide in Japan, with availability through kart tracks and GR Garage locations. Developed as an entry-level racing kart, it is intended to remove some of the practical barriers that often discourage people from taking up karting, including purchase costs, transportation, storage and maintenance.

The result is a machine that puts accessibility ahead of complexity, while retaining the hands-on driving experience that makes karting such an important first step into motorsports.

Toyota GR KART: Making Motorsports More Accessible

Karting has long been one of the most direct ways to experience the fundamentals of driving. There is no power steering, no electronic safety net and very little separating the driver from the track. For many professional racing drivers, it is also where their competitive careers begin.

Toyota Gazoo Racing sees that experience as something that should be available to more people. The GR KART is part of the company’s broader effort to expand the grassroots motorsports community and encourage the next generation of drivers.

The philosophy also reflects a long-standing ambition of Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio Toyoda, who competes in motorsports under the name Morizo. His vision is for motorsports to become an activity that families can take up as naturally as baseball or soccer.

The GR KART is Toyota‘s answer to that challenge: a kart that is easier to buy, transport, store and maintain, while allowing drivers to experience the satisfaction of controlling a vehicle themselves.

A Carmaker-Made Kart Built in Japan

Toyota describes the GR KART as a “carmaker-made kart,” and its development reflects the company’s manufacturing experience. Production takes place at the Gamagori GR KART Workshop in Aichi Prefecture, a deliberately small-scale facility designed to make it easier to test ideas, solve problems and introduce improvements quickly.

The workshop follows principles associated with the Toyota Production System (TPS), with an emphasis on quality, efficiency and continuous improvement. That approach is intended to help reduce manufacturing costs while maintaining the durability and consistency expected from a Toyota-developed product.

For customers, the objective is straightforward: a kart that is not only accessible when purchased, but also practical to keep and use over time.

Designed to Fit Into a Family Minivan

One of the most significant obstacles to karting is not necessarily the track itself. It is getting the kart there.

The GR KART has been designed to fit inside everyday family vehicles, including the Toyota Noah and Toyota Voxy, without requiring disassembly. That means owners can transport it using a conventional minivan rather than investing in a large trailer or dedicated race transporter.

The same practical thinking extends to storage. Toyota has designed the GR KART to support upright storage without first draining its gasoline and engine oil.

Several details make that possible:

  • An engine oil catch tank designed for upright storage.
  • A diaphragm carburetor without a float chamber.
  • A fuel filler opening orientation intended to minimize fuel leakage when the kart is stored vertically.

For families with limited garage space, those details could make the difference between a kart that is used regularly and one that becomes difficult to live with.

One Kart for Children and Adults

The GR KART is designed to accommodate a broad range of drivers. Its sliding pedals and tiltable steering wheel can each be adjusted with a single touch, allowing the kart to fit users between 135 and 185 centimeters tall.

That gives children and adults the opportunity to share the same machine rather than requiring separate equipment as a child grows. It also makes the GR KART a more practical proposition for families who want to experience karting together.

A dedicated weight box can hold up to 15 kilograms of ballast, allowing the kart’s weight to be adjusted for racing. The box also includes a location for installing a transponder, keeping race-day equipment integrated into the design.

Simple Maintenance Is Part of the Appeal

Toyota has paid particular attention to the systems that owners will need to live with after the initial purchase.

The GR KART uses a belt-drive system instead of a chain drive. That eliminates the need to deal with chain oil and includes an automatic tensioner, removing the requirement for periodic belt-tension adjustments.

The engine also features a built-in, self-charging battery, so owners do not need to install a separate battery or deal with the inconvenience of charging one independently.

Another notable feature is the newly developed diaphragm carburetor for the four-stroke engine. Because it does not use a float chamber, it is designed to reduce the effects of fuel-level fluctuations caused by lateral g-forces.

A primer pump draws fuel into the carburetor before starting, making engine preparation simpler for beginners.

Durability has also been considered throughout the design. The rear axle shaft is made from rust-resistant stainless steel, while internal metal fuel lines inside the fuel tank are intended to reduce degradation caused by gasoline.

Beginner-Focused Safety Features

The GR KART is designed to make newcomers feel more comfortable behind the wheel, with several safety features aimed at preventing common problems and reducing the consequences of incidents.

Among them are:

  • Rear bumper design: Shaped to help prevent another kart from riding up onto a rear tire during a collision.
  • Rear-hub stopper pins: Designed to prevent the unlikely event of a rear hub detaching.
  • Protective seat design: The upper portion of the seat provides a designated surface for resting hands when getting in or out, while its shape helps shield hands from the hot muffler.
  • Throttle cable mounting: Designed to help prevent the throttle from sticking in the open position.

These features do not turn karting into a risk-free activity, but they demonstrate Toyota’s intention to make the GR KART approachable for people who may have little or no previous racing experience.

Toyota GR KART Price and Availability

Toyota Gazoo Racing has launched the GR KART nationwide in Japan through kart tracks and GR Garage locations. The company describes its pricing as beginner-accessible, although the supplied announcement does not specify an exact purchase price.

The kart’s broader ownership concept is just as important as its initial cost. By simplifying maintenance, making transport easier and allowing upright storage, Toyota is attempting to reduce the ongoing expenses and practical difficulties that can make karting difficult to sustain.

More Than a Kart: A Gateway to Motorsports

The GR KART is not intended to replace the excitement of a serious competition kart. Its purpose is more fundamental: to make the first step into motorsports less intimidating and more realistic for ordinary families.

That makes it an interesting extension of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s philosophy. The GR brand is known for performance cars developed from motorsports experience, but the GR KART takes that relationship in the opposite direction. Instead of bringing racing technology to the road, it brings the experience of racing closer to everyday life.

If Toyota’s approach succeeds, the GR KART could help more children discover the joy of driving, more families spend time at kart tracks and more aspiring racers find their way into motorsports.

And for a company that has long talked about making ever-better cars, there is something fitting about starting with a machine whose entire purpose is to teach people why driving is so much fun in the first place.

Source: Toyota

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

News

Toyota Named Sweden’s Most Satisfying Car Brand

Toyota has once again claimed the top spot in Sweden’s largest car owner satisfaction study, reinforcing the Japanese brand’s long-standing reputation for reliability, durability and worry-free ownership. According to the AutoIndex 2026 survey published by Swedish automotive magazine Vi Bilägare, Toyota finished first for the second consecutive year, making it the highest-rated brand among Swedish car owners.

The result is particularly significant because AutoIndex measures the real experiences of owners rather than laboratory tests or marketing claims. In a market known for demanding customers and harsh weather conditions, Toyota’s repeat victory highlights the factors that matter most to drivers: dependable engineering, predictable running costs and confidence that the car will continue to perform year after year.

Toyota owners rank reliability above everything else

In the categories covering quality, reliability and durability, Japanese manufacturers once again dominated the rankings, with Toyota leading the field. Many respondents said that reliability was the primary reason they chose the brand in the first place.

Toyota RAV4 owner Sven-Åke Johansson summarized the sentiment shared by many participants:

“I haven’t had a single breakdown so far. This is the best car I’ve ever owned.”

That level of satisfaction helps explain why Toyota consistently achieves exceptionally high owner loyalty. For a large number of drivers, the most important feature is not a giant touchscreen or the latest digital technology. What they value is a car that starts every morning, handles daily commuting without drama and does not generate unexpected repair bills.

The philosophy behind Toyota’s success

Toyota has spent decades building its reputation on proven engineering rather than chasing every new trend. The company’s conservative approach to technology, especially its extensive use of hybrid powertrains, has become one of the main reasons for the popularity of models such as the Toyota RAV4, Toyota Corolla and Toyota C-HR.

Swedish owners appear to reward that strategy. The survey suggests that many customers appreciate Toyota’s focus on longevity and efficiency over headline-grabbing innovation.

Why some Toyota hybrids sound louder under acceleration

Despite the overwhelmingly positive results, the survey also revealed two recurring complaints. The most common concerns cabin noise, particularly during hard acceleration or at higher speeds.

This criticism is often linked to Toyota’s hybrid system and its e-CVT transmission architecture. Unlike a conventional automatic gearbox with fixed gear ratios, Toyota’s hybrid setup uses a planetary gear arrangement that allows the engine speed to vary continuously.

The advantage is excellent fuel efficiency, smooth operation and strong long-term reliability. However, when the driver demands more power for overtaking or rapid acceleration, the engine can rise to a higher rpm and stay there longer than drivers accustomed to traditional automatics expect. As a result, some owners perceive the engine as noisier, even though the behavior is a normal characteristic of the hybrid system rather than a mechanical fault.

For Toyota, this represents a trade-off: maximum efficiency and durability versus the quieter acceleration feel offered by some competitors.

12-volt battery complaints appear in some models

The second issue mentioned by a smaller number of owners involves discharge of the 12-volt auxiliary battery. This battery powers the vehicle’s electronic systems and is separate from the high-voltage hybrid battery. If it becomes discharged, the vehicle may not start.

Long-time Toyota owner Helén Granberg, who says she has owned 19 Toyotas, reported that her Toyota C-HR was the first car in which she experienced such a problem:

“My C-HR is the first car that had problems and had to be serviced twice due to a flat battery.”

While such reports are noteworthy, the survey indicates that they have not significantly damaged overall owner satisfaction.

Low ownership costs remain a major Toyota advantage

One of the clearest themes in AutoIndex 2026 is the importance of total ownership cost. Respondents repeatedly highlighted:

  • low repair frequency,
  • predictable maintenance expenses,
  • strong fuel economy,
  • good long-term durability,
  • and fewer unexpected workshop visits.

In an era when modern vehicles are becoming increasingly complex, these practical advantages carry enormous weight with consumers.

Why Toyota continues to win customer trust

Toyota may not always offer the quietest cabin, the most luxurious interior materials or the newest infotainment features. Yet the AutoIndex results show that many owners are willing to overlook those shortcomings because the cars consistently deliver where it matters most: reliability.

The survey points to a broader trend in the automotive industry. As vehicles add more electronics, software features and advanced driver-assistance systems, some buyers are becoming more concerned about long-term dependability. Toyota’s reputation for mechanical robustness gives it a powerful competitive advantage in that environment.

AutoIndex 2026 sends a clear message

Toyota’s second consecutive victory in Sweden’s AutoIndex study suggests that customer trust remains one of the strongest currencies in the car business. Owners are not necessarily searching for a perfect car; they are searching for a car they can depend on every day.

That is the key takeaway from AutoIndex 2026. Toyota continues to earn loyalty not through flashy marketing or constant reinvention, but by delivering vehicles that owners believe will serve them faithfully for years. In the eyes of Swedish drivers, that trust is worth more than almost any optional feature, and it is the reason Toyota remains one of the most respected automotive brands in the market today.

Source: AutoIndex