[6][7][8] Like the Ford Mustang, the Celica concept was to attach a coupe body to the chassis and mechanicals from a high volume sedan, in this case the Toyota Carina.

Displayed at the October 1970 Tokyo Motor Show[12] together with the Toyota Carina[13] and marketed from December of the same year, the Celica was a two-door hardtop coupé that emphasized styling and driving enjoyment.

Typically for the Japanese market GTs had 18R-G motors that were mated to a Porsche designed closer ratio P51 5 speed gearbox whereas export models had the W-50.

[17] In 1974, for the 1975 model year, the North American spec Celica retained the earlier body but received federally mandated 5 mph bumpers front and rear.

This generation offered as standard equipment a new windshield wiper and headlight switch installation, with the controls operated by levers attached to the steering column.

This was basically a GT coupe with a four-speed automatic transmission, Supra style interior, power windows, upgraded sound system and alloy wheels.

However, for the facelift model, it was replaced by the quicker 73 kW (98 hp) 2S-C motor, now in combination with independent rear suspension rather than the traditional live axle differential.

The GT-T (TA63) came with the twin-spark 1.8-liter 3T-GTE engine, W55 5-speed manual gearbox, a limited slip differential, pump up lumbar "sports" seats and optional digital dash.

[30] With full-time all-wheel drive, including an electronically controlled central locking differential, and a turbocharged version of the GT-S 2.0 L engine producing 185 PS (136 kW) (3S-GTE), it immediately took its place as the flagship of the Celica range and became the official Toyota rally car for all years of production.

The GT-Four, with a revised viscous coupling central locking differential, began export in 1987 (1988 U.S. model year) and marketed in North America as the All-trac Turbo.

For the interior, the GT came with an electronic 4-speaker AM/FM/MPX tuner, power side mirrors, tilt steering wheel, driver's lumbar support and an automatic retracting radio antenna was standard.

The Celica received new Super Round organic styling, upgraded wheels and tires, more powerful GT-Four (All-Trac Turbo in the U.S.) with better cooling system, and for the Japanese market only, the four-wheel steering (4WS) models.

Also sold in Japan only was the GT-Four V. This was an economy version of narrow body without alloy wheels, leather, or Super Live Sound System, but still came with fog lights, power windows, and optional sunroof.

With its sport-style interior, power-operated driver's seat, auto tilt-away steering wheel, and cruise control as standard equipment, the All-Trac Turbo (known as the GT-Four outside of the U.S.) was the most expensive Celica yet.

[39] Changes included: For the FIA WRC Group A homologation, the special rally edition of 5000 units named Celica GT-Four RC was launched in Japan in September 1991.

[40] The export models are called the Carlos Sainz (CS) Limited Edition in Europe and Singapore (in honour of the famous European World Rally Champion) or Group A Rallye in Australia.

The 2500 homologation cars built to allow Toyota to enter the GT-Four as a Group A car in the World Rally Championship also sported extras such as all of the plumbing required to activate an anti-lag system, a water spray bar for the Intercooler's front heat exchanger, a water injection system for detonation protection, a hood spoiler mounted in front of the windscreen to stop hood flex at high speed and the standard rear spoiler mounted on riser blocks.

However, the team was banned from competition for a year after the car's single victory due to turbocharger fixing—a device that meant there was no air path restriction on the intake—when the jubilee clip (worm-drive hose clamp) was undone this would flick back into place so as to go un-noticed by inspectors.

To celebrate 25 years of Celica, the SS-I and SS-III Special Edition were released in Japan, and the 25th Anniversary ST Limited and GT convertible marked this occasion in the U.S.

The 2000 model year Celica was an element of Toyota Project Genesis, a failed effort to bring younger buyers to the marque in the United States.

Other options include ABS, rear spoiler, fog lights, HID low beam headlights, upgraded JBL stereo system, 6-disc CD changer, leather seat surfaces, side-impact airbags, floor mats, vehicle intrusion protection (VIP) alarms with door lock/unlock feature, cargo net, cold area package (heavy-duty battery and starter motor)[45] and liftback cargo cover.

It uses Toyota's VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence) system which modulated the intake cam phase angle to increase torque and horsepower throughout the rev range.

The most popular among buyers were the “Action Package” which offered a more aggressive front bumper with wider grille, rocker panels, and higher rear spoiler.

The front bumper fairing interfered with the mounting location for the standard factory fog lights, requiring them to be adjusted or removed when this option was added.

This lower limiter on the 2002 and 2005 models reduces the available performance as the 2ZZ-GE is primarily a high-revving engine, and it is more difficult for the driver to land in the 'lift' (aggressive cam) rev range on an upshift.

The Action Package body kit was restyled in 2004 with a different front bumper, side and rear spoiler which is no longer the same as Japanese Mechanical Sports, but still higher than the standard one.

This version was rated at 200 hp (149 kW) and featured a reinforced unibody, TRD body kits with raised hood scoop and slightly different rear spoiler, and suspension components.

[citation needed] The reduction of engine displacement reflected a drop off in sales to Japanese customers due to the annual road tax liability of previous generations.

All the 7th generation Celica models for Europe have the 6-speed manual transmission and all around disc brakes, and was just marketed as 1.8 VVT-i and 1.8 VVTL-i 190 or T-Sport, which are the GT and GT-S, respectively.

The ZR has standard ABS, moonroof, SRS side and front airbags, fog lights, 16-inch alloy wheels, 6 stack in dash CD player with cassette, and aluminum pedals.