It was created to compete in the World Rally Championship, whose regulations dictate that a manufacturer must build road-going versions of the vehicle in sufficient numbers.

The Celica GT-Four concept started with a convertible prototype displayed at 1985 Tokyo Motor Show.

Inside, the original GT-Four has a differential lock switch near the hand brake for the pre-facelift model built from October 1986 to September 1987.

The export version also has ground effects, noticeably the side spoilers and standard dual front round fog lights.

The center differential was changed from a manually lockable unit (either open or locked) to a viscous-coupling limited-slip type.

The 3S-GTE in the ST185 GT-Four features an air-to-air intercooler and CT26 twin entry turbo to eliminate exhaust gas interference.

The Japanese market GT-Four has 225 PS (165 kW; 222 hp) of power and 224 lbf⋅ft (304 N⋅m) of torque, a result of more aggressive ignition advance and ceramic turbine.

With its sport-style interior, power-operated driver's seat, auto tilt-away steering wheel, SRS Airbag, and cruise control as standard equipment, the ST185 All-Trac Turbo was the most expensive Celica yet.

This facelift included the new Toyota ellipse emblems on the hood and trunk, restyled tail lights with smoked red frame, and shorter gear shift.

To meet the FIA homologation requirements for the 1992 WRC season, the GT-Four RC was launched in September 1991 for the Japanese market.

[6] The export version is known as Carlos Sainz (CS) Limited Edition in Singapore and Europe (in honour of their famous WRC driver), or Group A Rallye in Australia.

Influenced strongly by Toyota Team Europe, Toyota's factory team in the World Rally Championship, the final version of the GT-Four included improvements such as an all-aluminum hood to save weight, four-channel ABS (optional for the Japanese market), an improved (enthusiast dubbed) CT20B twin entry turbocharger, and "Super Strut Suspension".

The 2500 units homologation cars built to allow Toyota to enter the GT-Four as a Group A car in the World Rally Championship also featured extras such as all of the plumbing required to activate an anti-lag system, a water spray bar and pump for the front intercooler, a basic water injection system, special insulation between the engine and charge cooler, a small hood-mounted spoiler aft of the windscreen washers (also standard fit on all UK cars) and a higher rear spoiler mounted on risers.

Out of the 2500 GT-Four WRC built, 2100 stayed in Japan, 300 were exported to Europe, 77 for Australia, 5 for New Zealand and a few to the general markets.

Other new feature for the final facelift model were 3-spoke leather steering wheel with SRS Airbag and projector headlights.

FIA president Max Mosley called the illegal turbo restrictor "the most sophisticated device I've ever seen in 30 years of motor sports."

Toyota and their drivers, Juha Kankkunen, Didier Auriol and Armin Schwarz, were also had their points removed in the championships.