Toyota’s new GR Celica will be mid‑engined and AWD while Supra stays front‑engine
Published on Sep 17, 2025 at 6:36 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Sep 17, 2025 at 6:36 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Claire Reid
An all-new Toyota GR Celica featuring a mid-engine and all-wheel drive is currently in the works, but the Supra will be holding onto its front-engine.
The original Toyota Celica launched all the way back in 1970.
The car’s production wrapped up in 2006, after seven generations of the Celica.
However, since then, fans have been calling on Toyota to revive the nameplate – and their calls have finally been answered with the new Toyota GR Celica.
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What we know about the Toyota GR Celica
Toyota confirmed it was bringing back a new, eight-generation Celica back in November.
But there could be a bit of a wait.
“To be honest, there is no sign of it right now,” Toyota’s Executive Vice President Yuki Nakajima told Best Car.
“However, there are many people within the company who are eagerly awaiting the Celica. So… I’m not sure if it’s okay to say this in a public forum, but we’re doing the Celica.”
Since then, official details on the comeback car have remained scarce, but a new report from Japan’s Best Car has claimed there will be some big changes.
The previous generations of the Toyota Celica all came with front-mounted engines.
However, it seems the Toyota GR Celica will be quite different from what we’ve seen before.
According to the report, this time around, the Celica will come with a mid-engine.
And not just any engine, the same one seen on the Toyota GR Yaris M Concept.
In the GR Yaris concept, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine has an output of around 450 horsepower, but the marque claims this could be boosted up to 600hp.
Alongside the new engine placement, the Toyota GR Celica will be an all-wheel drive, the report adds.
As yet, Toyota hasn’t confirmed or denied that the new GR Celica will be a mid-engine.
The marque also hasn’t shared when we can expect our first glimpse at the new Celica, but reports suggest it could be unveiled as a concept in 2027 with a production vehicle launched the following year.
What does this mean for the GR Supra?
With the upcoming Toyota GR Celica tipped to be more powerful, and more expensive, than previous generations, you might be wondering where that leaves the Supra?
But it seems Toyota is keen to carve out two distinct identities for the Celica and Supra.
The report from Best Car suggests that to stop the Celica from stepping on its toes, the GR Supra will hold onto its front-engine, rear-wheel drive format, and come with a 500 horsepower hybrid powertrain.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
