New Toyota WRC27 Car Might be Teasing the All-New GR Celica

When a camouflaged two-door coupe prototype was photographed and captured on camera tearing up the gravel stages in Portugal’s Algarve region late last month, it was easy to see why the new 2027 Toyota WRC car, which had been spotted in testing, immediately sparked speculation about the long-rumored Celica’s return.

According to the team’s technical director, Tom Fowler, development has moved at an astonishing pace, and by the end of 2026, they will be ready to begin prototype runs. They’ve already put the car through its paces in a series of test runs, covering slightly under 2,000 kilometers. After all those miles on some extremely challenging terrain, engineers are now evaluating the details to see how the vehicle functions in real life.

The rules for the 2027 season play an important role here, and not just because the FIA has established a space frame chassis with a common safety cell. This allows teams to be far more imaginative with the body design, which essentially means they can abandon the idea of the automobile matching a commercial model. All they have to do is stick to the dimensions: around 161-169 inches long and 73.8 inches wide to begin. To keep prices down, they’ve made it so that automobiles no longer need all of the fancy aerodynamics they used to have, and to top it all off, they’ve had to share more components. This means the new cars should cost around half as much as the current Rally 1 machines.

What gets the car moving is an old friend: a turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine that still produces roughly 290 horsepower, similar to the GR Yaris Rally 2. A five-speed sequential gearbox delivers power to all four wheels, similar to what is used in the Rally 2. The suspension consists of A-arms, the brakes are typical Rally2 spec with a four piston caliper, and the steering is very standard, with a hydraulically assisted rack and pinion system capable of 1.5 locks.

The prototype’s appearance is notable because it differs significantly from the current GR Yaris Rally 1 hatchback, with flared fenders that give the car an aggressive attitude. The front looks low and elegant, with a small grille and horizontal headlights that would be easy to miss if they weren’t camouflaged. The hood has large cooling vents, and the front bumper looks serious. Pronounced rear shoulders lead to a boxy tail section topped by a substantial wing, while a roof scoop adds to the purposeful look.

Looking at this coupe layout brings up a lot of memories from Toyota’s rally history, namely the Celica GT-Four, which dominated the early 1990s with all-wheel drive and turbo power. It is especially noteworthy given that they won manufacturer’s crowns in 1993 and 1994. Many enthusiasts have already drawn comparisons with the current prototype, and there is a strong impression that Toyota is considering bringing the Celica back in some form.

Rumor has it that this prototype will eventually become a roadgoing car, which appears to be a rather intriguing GR Celica, a tiny, aggressive, and driving-focused machine that many people anticipate to see on the roads. It is still unclear if the commercial car will be a direct copy of the prototype’s configuration or a mid-engine design.
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