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Toyota Motor Co. has issued the following press release:
Visitors to this year’s Paris Motor Show will see an upgraded Celica that intends to be even more competitive in the segment of sports coupes, with enhanced new qualities in other areas, like safety and perceived quality.
The Toyota Celica is available in two versions: standard, featuring the 1.8 VVT-i engine, and the T Sport, featuring the exhilarating 1.8 VVTL-i powerplant.
Safety and driving pleasure as a whole
Even the most experienced driver needs a car with high safety levels to benefit from the full potential of a well-balanced chassis or powerful engine. For this reason, Safety and Driving Pleasure are seen as one in this newly upgraded Celica.
Front discs diameter was increased to 275mm in the Standard version for extra stopping power and more resistance to fade.
New High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps are now available for Toyota Celica T Sport (and optional with the 1.8 VVT-i engine), keeping its high performance image and adding to night time driving safety with stronger, clearer illumination. The high beams are of the Halogen Infrared Reflection type. — revamped MR2 sports car.
An additional safety and convenience feature is the auto-levelling system which automatically adjusts the headlamp alignment according to the weight of luggage or passengers.
Celica T Sport also has VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), TRC (Traction Control) and BA (Brake Assist) as standard equipment (available as options in the base grade).
Modifications to both front and rear shock absorbers result in a more flat, comfortable ride, achieving better traction at the same time.
Changes made to the steering achieve a more responsive feel and small aerodynamic modifications result in superior high-speed stability by reducing rear tyre lift.
A new exterior identity
The Toyota Celica’s exterior design has undergone a facelift, aiming to achieve a more striking and personalised appearance. — Frankfurt Motor Show.
The cut-away of the lower grille is wider, so the vertical bars widen more emphatically as they descend. At the same time the openings around the integrated fog lamps have a sharper shape.
The rear combination lamps now feature an attractive E-shaped chrome extension and a two-level cylinder shape. The rear lamp is now all co-ordinated in red.
Finally, the latest Toyota Celica wears its badge with more pride – the Toyota emblem on the bonnet has been increased in size – and two vibrant new colours have been added to the range.
Higher levels of perceived quality for Celica’s cockpit
The stylish, sporty interior of the Toyota Celica now has a greater feel of perceived quality. The interior colour has been changed from Amethyst to Dark Grey and the centre panel colour also changed to match.
The move to amber colour lighting for many of the ancillary controls and the audio unit, result in a more co-ordinated look. The main instrumentation is now more legible for greater safety and the dial-type heater control knob has been changed. — all-new Prius hybrid system.
Front and rear fabric seats now both feature black main parts with grey or dark grey side trims. The optional leather seats have been restyled and optional seat heaters are available.
Featuring the ‘Engine of the Year’ (1.4-1.8 class)
The powertrains of the revised Celica are the best among 1.8-litre power units, the reason why they remain unchanged.
As proof of this claim, a panel of judges from all over the world considered the 1.8 VVTL-i engine from the Celica T Sport as the best among all 1.4 to 1.8-litre powertrains in the market, including diesel. As a result, this engine received the title of ‘Engine of the Year’ on the 14-1.8 class, attributed by Engine Technology International Magazine.
The reasons for the judges choice were clear: besides having one of the best specific power figures in the world (among normally aspirated engines), the 1.8 VVTL-i can deliver breathtaking performance with surprisingly low fuel consumption.
