Words: Kyle Cassidy
Published 3 March 2026
Toyota appears to be laying the groundwork for the long-rumoured return of the Toyota Celica, after a striking new rally prototype was spotted undergoing testing in Portugal.
Spy images captured by photographer Marcio Pereira and shared by French outlet Rallye-Sport.fr show a heavily camouflaged Toyota coupé wearing test livery, believed to be an early development car aligned with the World Rally Championship’s new technical regulations due to take effect in 2027.
Those regulations will allow a far wider variety of bodystyles than the current Rally1 ruleset, including coupés, opening the door for more road-car-inspired silhouettes. According to Autosport, Toyota is currently the only manufacturer known to be developing an all-new car specifically for the 2027 WRC era.
With Toyota already confirming that a next-generation Celica is in development, motorsport observers believe this rally prototype could offer an early glimpse at the future sports car’s design direction. The Celica has history in world rallying, having secured manufacturers’ championships in 1993 and 1994, making the nameplate a natural fit for a WRC return.
While the prototype remains visually extreme, featuring oversized wheelarches and aggressive aerodynamic elements, key styling cues are already emerging. These include a bubble-style roofline and distinctive, fang-like headlight signatures reminiscent of the Toyota FT-Se concept revealed previously.
Toyota first publicly acknowledged the Celica’s comeback during the 2024 Rally Japan, when then vice-president Yuki Nakajima told fans: “We’re making the Celica!”
Company chairman Akio Toyoda has also spoken openly about reviving Toyota’s so-called “three brothers” – the Supra, Celica and MR2. The Supra returned to showrooms in 2019, while details around a new MR2 remain scarce, further suggesting the Celica could be next in line.
A Toyota spokesperson has confirmed the brand is already preparing for the upcoming WRC rule changes, noting that the current Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 will reach the end of its competitive life at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
