Toyota Celica replacement coming in 2009

Posted Tue Nov 20 2007 7:03 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Toyota's Celica sports coupe is set to make a return, albeit, in European markets only according to the carmaker's German Chief Markus Schrick. The Celica was dropped from the market back in 2005, along with several other Toyota sports models such as the Supra and AE86 in previous years.

Speaking recently with Automotive News Europe, Schrick told reporters that Toyota was in favor of Germany keeping its speed unlimited autobahns and that such roads were "a unique selling point" for the country.

His fondness for the roads is likely to be because of Toyota's revival of its sports car range. Along with the Celica in 2009, there will be the new LF-A supercar and possibly a new RWD entry level Toyota model. The first performance model to arrive, however, will be the Lexus IS-F, which goes on sale in March next year.

Schrick also admitted that "Lexus is struggling" in Germany and these new sports models are designed to raise awareness of the brand.

It's likely any performance models developed for Europe will also be sold in the U.S., including cars like the new Celica.

MotorAuthority