Toyota Celica 1971 News

Toyota is working to provide a triple challenge that mirrors its one time effort with the Celica, MR2 and Supra, but with proper sports car driving enjoyment. It has already delivered the first step with the 86, which is a leading contender for Car of the Year honours around the world,  by company chief Akio Toyoda wants more and 86 chief engineer Tetsuya Tada is hinting strongly about three cars. The Supra is likely to come next and Toyota has given a pointer with the design of its FT-HS - Future Toyota Hybrid Sports - coupe, currently on display at its flagship site on the Champs Elysees in Paris. It packs a V6 hybrid power train good for 350 kiloWatts and a 0-100km/h sprint in 4.0 seconds. "That definitely looks like a Supra replacement. And that's consistent with what we said four years ago. It's under study," Greg Gardner, product planning chief for Toyota Australia, tells Carsguide while standing alongside the FT-HS show car in Paris. He also confirms Tada's plan to head a three-model sports car development program. "The chief engineer has certainly expressed a wish to do that. It depends on the reaction to the 86." He says it would be logical for the 86 to take the slot once filled - in a very different way - by the Celica, leaving room either side. The FT-HS would run above, although without the overweight body and old-school six-cylinder engines of the Supra. "It sits in the middle. There is definitely room," Gardner says. "Supra filled a fantastic position until worldwide demand dried up. A smaller one would also be fantastic." While there is intense speculation about successors to the 86, Toyota Australia is ramping-up support for its $29,990 hero car. It has just confirmed a range of accessories for the car that is topped by a body kit - and over-done rear wing - from the factory. "The body kit was developed by Toyota. It was always going to be available to us, but it was a little delayed," he says. "It's only available on the high-grade model." There will also be suspension and brake improvements for the car, and interior cosmetic parts, but Gardner rules out any power-up equipment for the four-cylinder boxer engine developed by Subaru for the 86 and its BRZ twin. "The chief engineer definitely designed the car to be modified and he's keen to see that happen. But it's not really our core business to get into that, so we'll leave it to the aftermarket. "I know the mounting points are the same for our existing engine and an STI Subaru turbocharged engine. While we couldn't condone that from a  warranty point of view, it is possible."  

The motor show tease for the crucial new coupe has been clipped of its giant flared guards and ground-scraper nose in the first Carparazzi pictures of the real car during testing close to the Nurburgring in Germany. The 2.0-litre rear-drive hero car is being shown at the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne in July ahead of sales in 2012. Pricing is expected to start at $35,000.

... the giant rear wing and a deep front spoiler fitted to one of the German test cars. The extra body bits hit there will be at least two versions of the born- again Celica, with turbocharging at the top end.

It's not called the Celica yet, and it's not confirmed for production yet, but the Toyota FT-86 Concept is the best sign yet that the world's biggest carmarker wants to put a sporty coupe back into its line-up. It is also proof that Toyota is serious about its sports car collaboration with Subaru, since the FT-86 packs a two-litre boxer engine under its bonnet that is being provided by its new go-faster partner. The Toyaru coupe should go live within a year and is likely to make it to Australia in the early months of 2011 as both a Toyota and — with visual tweaking — a Subaru. No-one at Toyota Australia is prepared to talk about the FT-86, which will be rolled out at the Tokyo Motor Show this month as Toyota tries to put some positive spin back into the car business following the global economic meltdown. Even Toyota in Japan is keeping everything but the basic details a secret. It admits the car has the 2-litre flat-four engine and says the car has an overall length of 4160mm, a width of 1760mm, is 1260mm tall and rolls on a 2570mm wheelbase. The car is a genuine five-seater with a low centre of gravity and lightweight construction. It is painted in a colour called Flash Red, with a leather-wrapped interior in black and cream. Toyota says the cabin is deliberately minimalistic to give a sporty feel, "with many of the structural elements left uncovered". The other Toyota Tokyo concept to break cover this week is the FT-EV II, an electric city car. It is nowhere near as funky as the Renault and Peugeot electric concept cars that starred at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month, but it proves Toyota is accelerating plans to have a range of plug-in cars in production in the next few years. Toyota says the EV-II is even smaller than its current baby, the iQ, but can still seat four adults. It uses drive-by-wire technology to replace the conventional steering wheel and pedals with a joystick, a move that also frees more legroom in the cabin. It has a low-set nose that even includes an extra window below the windscreen to improve visibility for parking, with sliding electric doors on both sides. Proving the EV-II is a production testbed, Toyota claims a top speed of 100km/h and an 80-kilometre range between charges, although it has yet to reveal any details of the electric powerpack or battery system.

Adelaide native Stuart Martin has owned everything from a 1974 Jeep ragtop to an early Celica - complete with vinyl roof - that soldiered on through a frantic "30 minutes or die" pizza delivery career.Passionate about anything with wheels and an engine, Martin is young enough to cope with hybrid technology and old enough to remember carburettors; he's happy behind the wheel - of anything from a Suzuki Swift to an M3 - and preferably with a bit of opposite lock on.

The share market is shot, superannuation is in “negative growth” whatever that means, house prices are dropping alarmingly and interest rates look like falling. Where can you make an honest investment dollar these days? Well, art has some attraction but the numbers involved would make plenty of people tremble in their boots.What about collectable classic cars?We have all heard the stories about the six figure Falcon GTHOs and Monaros not forgetting the European thoroughbred classics, some of which go for multi-million dollar prices.But what if you're just an average punter and want to get in on the action.Take a look at Japanese collectable cars - is the advice coming from those in the know.This is because they have the potential for increased value from a relatively low base. And depending on the car (and luck) you could have a tidy little nest egg in the garage, one that you can take out and actually enjoy at your discretion.Christophe Boribon is the National Auction Manager for Shannons Auctions and he has some firm ideas on what cars are good buying with potential appreciation and those that are dead certainties.Chris' named the Toyota 2000GT as the most collectable classic Japanese car in Australia because of its rarity (only eight imported) and the specification of the car. He says a good one will go for between $2-300,000.Hardly accessible to the average punter.But other cars from most Japanese manufacturers operating here are shaping up well at the auctions and as long term prospects.Mazda's 1960s R100 coupe is worth a look at 10 grand according to Chris' as is the original, glass back RX7.“The RX3 is also good buying at $25-35,000 if you can get a good one and it should appreciate if looked after,” Chris' said.”Then there is the late '90s twin-turbo RX7 and RX7 SP - a locally fettled hotrod that will appreciate because it was a low volume performance car.”“You will pay big dollars for a Mazda Cosmo (up to 100 grand) but the first MX5 is a good proposition for not much money.” He said the SP versions of the later MX5 will be worth more in the long run and even the Japanese turbo model, the SE, should appreciate over time.Toyota has a few potentially collectable models including the late '60s Celica RA23 and TA23 models as well as the rear drive Sprinter 1.6. Celica GT4s should also be good buying if you can find one that hasn't been raced. Honda's most collectable car is the NSX but Chris' says the first S2000 sports cars are worth a look if you can get one that hasn't been thrashed. The tiny S600 and S800 sports cars are good property and even the quad headlight Integra TypeR could appreciate given time.Any Mitsubishi Lancer Evo in reasonable road condition will be worth a punt as a collectable particularly the Evo 6.5 Makinen edition. And if you can get hold of a twin turbo GTO 3000 (non-factory import) it should be a solid investment.Nissan has plenty of collectable cars dating right back to the 1960s. Think Datsun Fairlady sports cars, Datsun 240Z and 260Z coupes and of course the R32 Skyline GTR Godzilla Bathurst winning car - (Australian spec) of which only 100 were imported by the factory. You'll pay about $35,000 for Godzilla these days and it's on the way up for a decent standard one.Subaru has a couple of collectable cars too, the SVX coupe 3.3-litre flat six all-wheel-drive has possibilities and the 22B two door Impreza WRX STi for which you'll pay about $100,000 and going up.Good luck. 

Do you have to accept your fate, or are there steps you can take to reduce what you spend on fuel? Fortunately, some simple changes to your driving habits can save you as much as a third of your monthly fuel costs. First, consider if your car is worth keeping; if it’s an older, fuel-inefficient car, the potential savings from changing how you drive may not amount to much. You might also consider whether it makes sense to convert your engine to LPG. However, for most car owners a simpler first step will be to change your driving habits. We sometimes forget that an under inflated tyre can decrease fuel efficiency as well as our safety. Check and top-up your tyre pressure to the manufacturer’s recommendations fortnightly and it will actually save you fuel. If it’s time for new tyres, you might want to consider Eco tyres which are designed to increase fuel efficiency. Before you even get into your car, make sure you preplan your trip, since planning means you’re less likely to get lost and waste petrol or getting side-tracked for that matter. If you can help it, try to avoid driving during peak hour. When the roads are congested, it means continuous stopping and slow driving, which means your car is consuming more petrol, compared to an off-peak run. Don’t leave your engine running when you first start up your car, as excessive idling will drain fuel. Once the engine is running it is best to drive off straight away however you should drive gently till the engine reaches its usual operating temperature. Driving with your windows and sunroof open plays a part in decreasing fuel efficiency. The amount of fuel wastage is far more than putting the air conditioner on, especially when you are cursing on the motorway. Remember the air conditioner decreases fuel so try not to use it too much. You may not realise that having a heavy foot and braking heavily can significantly increase your fuel consumption. Accelerate and brake more gently, you must take notice of the red light ahead and begin to slow the car down to a stop rather than braking when you are 50 metres away. Weighing down your car with a trailer or adding wind resistance with roof racks, big side mirrors or large spoilers will all increase your car’s fuel consumption. Extra weight can lessen your efficiency by approximately ”2% for every 45kg,” Nikki Watkins from Moneywise claims. So next time you jump into your car for a drive make sure you remove any extra baggage that may be in the boot or the backseat. Driving with the correct gear is another way of lowering fuel consumption. The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) says you should always drive in the highest gear possible without straining the engine, you should also think ahead, so you can drop gears gradually which will allow you to brake gradually. The RAC claims that this will increase fuel efficiency by up to a third. The type of car you drive also affects how much you will be spending at the bowser. For example a Ford Falcon XR6 with aV6 engine will cost you anywhere between $80 to $100 for a full tank compared to a 1.8L Toyota Celica which would cost you $50 for a full tank. While you are being more fuel-efficient minded don’t forget to make use of special offers such as the petrol discount receipts, and don’t forget to take advantage of more fuel efficient fuel mixes for instance, Shell’s recently announced New Fuel Economy Formula. Shell is hoping to set a good example for the fuel industry and to provide a more economical option for motorists. Shell’s new mix will be the same price as ordinary petrol, but the company claims it offers more kilometers to the liter. The new formula was recently tested by an Australian couple John and Helen Taylor; they previously set the world record for driving around the world with only 24 tanks of petrol. The couple drove a distance of 18,000km per year an average run for the Australian motorist. The Taylors managed to average 13.3km per liter, and along the way, they also managed to make an annual saving of approximately $450. Shell says the new formula fuel will gradually be introduced at Shell service stations nationwide, including Coles Express.

I'm old enough to remember being captivated by a television ad for Toyota cars. You may remember. It started with a young person and a Corolla, moved through the Celica and Corona, to the Cressida and then the gentlemanly Crown – all to Sinatra's weepy strains of It Was A Very Good Year. For Toyota, every year was a good year. And it still is, especially if you're a bloke out to catch a bird in a Celica like the 1970s advertisement implied was possible. The problem is that today's Celica is bought by more women than men, so in the ensuing 30 years perhaps the roles have changed and it's the ladies doing the luring. Bring it on! And indeed, bring on more of the cars like Celica. Virtually forgotten on the present car market – and isn't that a huge change from the 1970s? – the Celica presents as a racy coupe with more body creases than Charles Bronson. The look is clean, with those creases inspiring movement even when the car is sitting at the kerb. Despite its slimline side windows and steeply raked front and rear glass, the cabin is roomy for two adults and even allows two children in the rear. Front-wheel-drive gives a bit more boot space than the pre-1986 rear-drive models, though it's hardly huge. In reality, the singles or couples who buy a Celica probably place cargo-carrying low on the priority list. Instead, they're into style, a bit of performance and an element of exclusivity. In its latest guise, the Celica actually runs hard and delivers high standards of roadholding. Most earlier Celicas only earned the title ¿hot¿ when they were left under a Perth summer sun for a few hours. Performance generally swung from dismal to embarrassing. Thanks to a high-revving 1.8-litre engine driving the front wheels through a six-speed gearbox – and auto is optional – the car now gets up and barks. I wheeled one around Nannup and Busselton (in WA) for the Forest Rally and, on the open roads, it went like stink and thrived on cruising. Even the suspension was compliant enough to make the occupants arrive unfazed, while the depth of sound deadening kept the cab hushed enough for conversation. There's nothing outlandish about the oily bits under the body. Its engine is purpose-built for this car – though lately also shoehorned into the Corolla Sportivo – and has a fetish for revving hard up against the 8000rpm redline. Toyota makes two Celica models – SX and ZR – with only spoilers and extra equipment separating the two. The more recent Celica model is the limited-edition TTR version that adds more gear at a discount price, effectively making the SX into a ZR for less than retail prices. Additional gear includes 16-inch alloys, alloy-look pedals, TTR badges, airconditioning and ABS. Toyota says there's $3800 of extra value stuffed into a coupe that sells for $39,998. It's a nice car but much naughtier than any of its predecessors.