Toyota Celica to make a comeback

Geneva International Motor Show

The wait for an exciting Toyota is almost over. The rear-drive sports-car jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru was unveiled at the Geneva motor show almost as it will appear in showrooms.

Toyota Australia says the car is under consideration but the Carsales Network understands the Toyota coupe is all but confirmed for Australia and will be on sale by the middle of next year priced from $35,000 to $40,000.

Toyota is yet to confirm what it will be called, but the sports-car codenamed FT-86 is a spiritual successor to the Celica which was phased out locally in 2005.

The Celica badge is understood to be on the shortlist of naming options, but the new sports car is such a departure from Celicas of old that there is debate about whether it should adopt a new name.

The last Celica was front-wheel-drive whereas the new car drives its power through the rear wheels, a method favoured by most sports car makers as it provides superior responsiveness, steering and handling.

The last rear-drive Celica went out of production in 1985 -- but it had become a pale imitation of the fast and nimble Celicas of the 1970s.

The last time Toyota sold a rear-drive sports car in Australia was the mid-engined MR2, axed locally in 2005. It cost $47,000 but Toyota Australia is hoping to limbo under $40,000 for the new sports-car.

Meanwhile, Subaru unveiled its version of the new joint venture sports-coupe -- kind of.

It showed off a clear resin body on top of the engine and drivetrain, which was Subaru's main contribution to the partnership.

Toyota oversaw the design and bodywork, although the cars will not share the same styling.

Subaru Australia is yet to decide if it will take the sports-car, which is rear-drive and powered by a non-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine.

In Australia, Subaru has become an exclusively all-wheel-drive brand over the past decade, starting with its slogan "all-wheel-drive is all we do".

But this has changed recently to "all for the driver", suitably vague enough to perhaps include a non all-wheel-drive car.

However, there is also some concern as to whether or not the non turbo engine would have enough power to fit Subaru's performance image.

The boss of Subaru Australia told the Carsales Network last year: "When and if it does become available to us, we will check to see if it fits in our line-up and with the Subaru DNA and make a decision from there."

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