This sounds less than likely. The current Celica was a move by Toyota away from big heavy things and towards light weight and high efficiency. Curb weights listed for it range from 2425 to 2580 lbs. Aside from the fact that the GT-S 6-speed is made in such miniscule quantities and almost never on hand at dealers, they sell pretty well.

The main complaints about it from owners are that it is somewhat lacking in the traditional Toyota quality and that it rattles too much. Toyota also had a problem with a high number of warranty claims on the GT-S because of a bunch of retards missing the 3-4 shift and grabbing 2nd gear instead. Originally the redline was at 8100 RPM and the limiter was 8400 RPM. So on the '02 model, they lowered the rev limiter to 7600 RPM (which is right where the power peaks, very annoying) and widened the gates on the shifter. The same motor in the Matrix XRS though, has an 8100 RPM limiter. Someone at Toyota figured out that a rev limiter isn't going to save the car from a missed shift so the '03 GT-S has its redline at 7800 and its limiter at 8100.

Toyota will probably move to something less peaky for the next GT-S, perhaps with 2.0 liters of displacement to chase after the RSX. I'd be pretty surprised though if it's not still a lightweight FF 2-door hatch.

 

You're completely correct. The celica has always been about light weight FF. If I have to guess, I would say the next would have a bored out version of the current engine to maybe 2.0L and pushing about low 200s. Which should be plenty for a 2500lb car.

 

It used to be rear wheel drive.

 

:werd: and AWD too.

 

The same engine will be used in the US version of the Elise (with Lotus programmed ECU). It will be interesting to see what the redline will be for that engine.

 

The first three generations of Celica were rwd, the fourth and fifth generation were ff with an awd/turbo variant available in all the world, and the sixth generation was ff with an awd/turbo variant available outside the USA.

I'd imagine that Toyota has a little more confidence in the driving abilities of people who would purchase an Elise and would give them the original 8100 RPM redline. At the very worst it'll be 7800 which is what the '03 GT-S has.

 

Wow, i guess i didn't much about the early celica after all. I knew about the all-trac but i thought most of the sales were from the ff version. For the last 3 generations of celicas, they were all light weight. But I didn't they had RWD ones before that.

 

Forget the Celica...

I'm waiting for the to bring back the AE86 based off the IS300 platform.....

IS300 platform
3SGE 4-cyl.
$20-$25000 USD Price...

Its feasable....

 

don't you mean IS200

 

The Altezza/IS200 has some variation on the 3S-GE with a VVT-i head, right? That "reincarnated AE86" concept is kind of an old rumor anyway.