Rumors Swirl About The 2011 Toyota Celica, A Subaru-Toyota Street Legal Speed Demon

Toyota FT-HS Concept

Although the Scion tC is widely regarded as the modern-day Toyota Celica, it’s generally agreed that Toyota hasn’t produced a performance car since the death of the Toyota Supra. Toyota’s FT-HS concept car and the fledgling Subieyota [Subaru-Toyota] partnership have people talking though, and there are rumors that Toyota [with the help of Subaru] is planning a sports-tuner comeback with the 2011 Toyota Celica.

Many expect designs for the 2011 Celica to draw heavily from the 400-hp Toyota FT-HS concept, but it’s still unclear exactly what the final product will look like. We do know, however, that the 2011 Toyota Celica will be offered with two trim levels: the GT and the GT-4. The Celica GT will be a RWD 2-door coupe and feature Subaru’s 2.0L boxer engine, while the GT-4 will be the stuff of street racers’ wet dreams. Anticipated as an Impreza STi/Celica crossbreed, the Celica GT-4 will feature the Impreza STi’s 300-hp 2.0L boxer engine as well as Subaru’s unique 4WD [complete with in-wheel electric motors for white-knuckle performance]. Careful to avoid direct competition with the 4- and 5-door offerings on the Impreza STi, the Celica GT and GT-4 will only be offered in either 2-door coupe or 3-door hatchback versions. Planned as a 2011 model, speculations place the European release of the Toyota Celica in late 2009, early 2010. Plans for a North American debut have yet to be confirmed.

Subaru Impreza WRX STi

Toyota Celica

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Despite downturn, Toyota re-commits to F1

Filed under: Motorsports, Toyota

Toyota has reiterated its commitment to F1, in spite of its first annual operating loss since 1938. Said Toyota CEO Katsuake Watanabe of Toyota's F1 budget, still the largest in F1 at $445 million, "To keep it up at the current level is extremely difficult." Yet even with the loss, the global economic mess, the belt-tightening on the corporate side, and the fact that Toyota hasn't won a race in seven years, a Toyota spokesperson said, "We don't have anything to add to the statement we made on 5 December [committing to F1 after Honda's pullout -- Ed.] because the financial results don't change anything for us in the ­formula one team. Our situation has not changed." The FIA has suggested that next year's cost cutting measures will save teams 33% over their 2008 budgets. On top of that, Toyota is conducting its own cost cutting study to see what it can do over and above that. We have a feeling 2009 won't see Toyota on top of the big spenders list again.

[Source: The Guardian | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

Despite downturn, Toyota re-commits to F1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota plug-in hybrid car by 2010

In a full-throttle commitment to go green and go big, Toyota has announced plans to release a plugin hybrid car by 2010. We feel that this move will reinforce Toyota as the true market leader in green technology and actually lead to a fundamental shift in the industry.

At RideLust, our view is that plug-in hybrids are the most likely green technology to quick, pervasive adoption. Why? Because they allow you to depend on electric 100% electric power for your daily commute, but provide long-distance range for the occasional family vacation.

Unlike pure electric vehicles like the Tesla Roadster, plug-in hybrids, such as the one coming from Toyota, don’t limit the distance you drive to 200 miles per charge and require a 3 hour downtime while you charge the vehicle up.

Rather, plug-in vehicles use the batteries in the vehicle for the first X number of miles and then convert over to a liquid fuel, drastically increasing your range and always enabling you to simply fuel up, rather than requiring a charge up in the middle of a trip.

The Toyota plugin hybrid will feature lithium-ion batteries produced by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.

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Lexus HS250h: New Hybrid-Only Lexus Sedan [Detroit Auto Show]

Back in August we told you Lexus plans to unveil a new hybrid-only model at the Detroit Auto Show in January at the same time as the reveal of the new third-generation 2010 Toyota Prius. Now, a newly published rendering from Japanese buff book Mag-X may give us some clues of what to expect from a car they claim will be badged as the Lexus HS250h.

We'll let Mag-X take it from here:

The drawing reveals a well-proportioned four-door car with Prius-like lines and angles—especially the front slope of its windshield and hood—while retaining design cues which are unmistakably Lexus, most notably the back-end and taillight styling.

The publication says the Lexus HS250h will most likely be outfitted with the 2.4-liter engine and electric motor combo found in the Toyota Camry Hybrid, and share many of the same mechanicals as that car. This includes the current-generation nickel metal hydride battery. Carrying over the powertrain would be significantly more cost-effective than developing an entirely new system for the Lexus brand.

Setting itself apart from the more mainstream Toyota brand, the Lexus concept car will feature a technology and entertainment module, controlled from the center console, much like BMW’s iDrive system. A roster of luxury equipment not offered by the Prius or Camry Hybrid will also be included.

If the HS250h sedan comes to fruition, it could join the Lexus lineup by late 2009 or early 2010. Price, technical specs, and other key stats will remain unknown, until official word from Toyota.

[Mag-X via HybridCars]

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