Toyota Canada confirms Celica to be discontinued

Toyota Canada confirms Celica to be discontinued

Toyota Canada confirms Celica to be discontinued


Toronto, Ontario - Toyota Canada confirmed the company's plans to discontinue the Celica in Canada by the end of the 2005 model year. Toyota will also discontinue the U.S.-only MR2 mid-engine sports car.

"The Celica and MR2 have been a favourite amongst sports car enthusiasts since their introductions," said Don Esmond, senior vice president and general manager of Toyota's U.S. Division. "The past few years, however, have been very challenging for both Celica and MR2 as competition in a segment where 'what's new' dominate.."

Currently in its seventh generation, the Celica was first introduced in 1971 and was influential in establishing the sporty subcompact segment. Toyota introduced the mid-engine, rear-wheel drive two-seater "Mr. Two" in 1985. The MR2 was on the market for ten years when production went on hiatus until 2000 when the third generation was introduced in the U.S.

Originally powered by Toyota's "sweet sixteen" 16-valve dual-overhead cam 1.6-liter engine, a supercharged version was added in 1988. A turbocharged version went on sale in 1991 prompting Car and Driver magazine to proclaim the MR2 Turbo as an exotic car for the rest of us."

well that sucks
now that means that if you want to buy a used one they will be more expensive

it needed to be done

i agree. celica is overpriced and underpowered.

overpriced.. Yes. underpowered ... hell no! Wait a few years and you will see this Celica would be the Supra of it's class ( as ridiculous as it sounds, but you will remember it a few years from now). That is the way felt about Supras when it discontinued. Toyota has put out some of the best sports cars in history, but they were always underappreciated in their times. Now Toyota is pulling out of the true sports car business for good and passing the torch on to all the Nissans and Hondas out there. As they say, once something is gone forever, that is when you truly appreciate it''s beauty.

Well, the sales stats show that the WRX and ST-i are not selling like hot cakes either. They are selling fine by Subaru's modest standards, but has no comparison with the high volume sports cars like Mustang etc.You are right about RSX. Honda recently showed the sales for the past 4 years and RSX has been steadily falling for the last 2 years in sales. The point is, there is an overall decline in the real sports car market and people's taste have changed where people are demanding a lot more practicality than just a car with great performance and high insurance.

SUV? discount on SUV truck?? but 350Z sells pretty well...

Yeah sport sedans have been steadily on the rise and SUVs have had a ridiculous improvement in sales. In Canada, 50% of the new sales are happening in the SUV department. It drives me nuts when I see some corporate guy driving out of his office with a big gas guzzling V8 4 runner or Lincoln navigator only because they "feel more safe" and "they look good in a big SUV". It is just pure dumb to drive such a big SUV which averages 12 mpg in the city.

read in autoweek.. celica sales down around 2002 2003.. the year WRX and STi were introduced. just wait for few years and RSX and Integra gonna have the same fate