Toyota is testing a new rally coupe that could preview the shape and dynamics of the new generation Celica, whose presentation is expected next year. Photos taken by Marcio Pereira and published on Rallye-Sport.fr show the prototype with a test livery in Portugal, ahead of its planned debut in the 2027 WRC. The design of the prototype is striking and revealing. Notable features include wide wheel arches, pronounced aerodynamic interventions, and a bubble roofline that suggests a more sculpted silhouette compared to Toyota’s recent coupes.
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The new Toyota Celica is coming
The regulatory context explains why Toyota is focusing on a coupe. The 2027 WRC regulations allow for a much wider range of body styles, including coupes, and Autosport reports that Toyota is currently the only known manufacturer working on a completely new car for the formula. Considering that the Celica is already in development and in light of its WRC history with the 1993 and 1994 manufacturers’ titles, it is plausible that the Japanese automaker will choose to bring back that name for the new model. The prototype also shows “fang” headlights reminiscent of the FT-Se concept, suggesting a design language inspired by previous Toyota studies.
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Testing on a rally car
At a corporate level, the return of the Celica had already been symbolically confirmed at the 2024 Rally Japan when then-vice president Nakajima announced: “We are making the Celica”. Toyota itself, through a spokesperson, reminded Autocar that the new FIA technical regulations for the 2027 WRC imply the natural retirement of the GR Yaris Rally1 at the end of 2026 and that testing on the 2027-compliant prototype has already begun.
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