We Now Have A Good Idea Of The Toyota GR Celica's Price, And It Will Spell Trouble For A Lot Of Sports Cars

It’s never dull when it comes to Japanese cars, and the latest scoop from a Japanese outlet, BestCarWeb, sheds more light on the upcoming Toyota GR Celica. The eighth generation of the iconic sports car has been highly anticipated by enthusiasts, but they will have to wait a bit more. 

According to the latest reports, the iconic sports car is scheduled for a debut at the 2027 Tokyo Auto Salon and will arrive for the 2028 model year. More importantly, it will be priced very competitively. That’s not to say dealer markups won’t kick into effect, but if what Japanese sources say it’s true, the new Toyota Celica will spell trouble for a lot of sports cars currently on sale.

Japanese prices suggest the GR Celica will be a bargain, but tariffs and dealer markups will play a role.

In Japan, the 2028 Toyota GR Celica will, reportedly, cost between ¥7.0 to ¥8.0 million, which after conversion, translates to approx. $44,789 to $51,176. This will make the GR Celica the most affordable mid-engine sports car, undercutting rivals like the Nissan Z NISMO and Toyota GR Supra, to name a few. Currently, there is only one other mid-engine sports car under $100,000, and it’s the Chevrolet C8 Corvette, which starts at $70,195.

Related: Toyota GR Supra Final Edition US Price Unveiled, And It Will Be A Lot Cheaper Than In Japan

And there lies the issue. The GR Celica will be made exclusively in Japan, meaning it will likely be subject to a 15-percent import tax. Then, there are the expected dealer markups, which will no doubt bring the prices up to C8 Corvette territory. If the car is priced too high, buyers looking for an affordable-ish, mid-engine performance car could gravitate towards the American model.

Related: A Nissan Dealer Goes Above And Beyond To Tailor To Enthusiasts Looking For The Most Driver-Focused Z

Built for motorsport domination

As we reported earlier, the GR Celica will feature track-focused performance, but that’s not all. It will be optimized for both circuit racing and rallying, which hints at Toyota wanting to use the GR Celica in rally series. Standard WRC regulations do not allow mid-engine sports cars, so what rally series Toyota is planning to enter the GR Celica remains unclear at this point.

We know it will feature a version of the GR-Four all-wheel-drive system, as seen on the GR Corolla and GR Yaris. We already know about Toyota’s G20E engine - a 2.0-liter, turbocharged, inline-four - which the company plans to use in a wide variety of models, including Lexus. In the GR Celica, the engine will produce 400 horsepower and 406 pound-feet, and will be mated to either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual.

Related: One GR Yaris Owner Tests How Reliable Toyota's G16-GTS Turbo-Three-Cylinder Is. The Internet Goes Mad.

The mid-engine Toyota Celica will also feature front and rear hoods made of carbon fiber. The lightweight material is also expected to be featured on the sports car’s rear wing and other aerodynamic elements. One neat feature will be the wrap-around windscreen, which is said to improve visibility during high–speed cornering. The GR Celica was originally said to be inspired by the FT-Se concept, but we have yet to see an official design. 

Nevertheless, Toyota is slowly painting a picture of its new mid-engine sports car, which will slot below the next-generation Toyota GR Supra, but above the upcoming GR86, which will, reportedly, be co-developed with Mazda, and not with Subaru. This time, however, the two models will not be twins.

Related stories: 

• Toyota GR86 Rally Legacy Concept Gives Plausible Insight into What The Next-Gen 86 Would Be

• New Reports From Japan Regarding The Toyota Supra And Mazda RX-7 Successor Might Hint At Two Very Similar Sports Cars As The Two Brands Will Collaborate A Lot More Than We Initially Believed

• After 9 Years Of Promising, Mazda Is Shelving The Rotary RX-7 Successor, But That Doesn't Mean We Won't Get A Flagship Performance Car

What's your take on the upcoming Toyota GR Celica? Would you be willing to pay upwards of $60,000 if it comes to it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Image source: Toyota FT-Se Concept

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota and Nissan are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.