Toyota CELICA STYLE
Toyotas Celica Has Long Been A Favourite Amongst Those Looking To Create An Impact. The Latest Models Continue That Trend. Andy Enright Reports
In naming some of their cars, manufacturers often line themselves up for a fall. Take the
Mitsubishi Carisma, the
Nissan Sunny Chic or the
SEAT Ibiza Impact. Attaching the model designation Style to any car would seem to be courting disaster. Unless, that is, the car in question is the current
Toyota Celica.
This is a car that has always had style. Its not an overt
Audi TT sort of style, more a neat, technical, Japanese techno sort of appeal. If you can appreciate the aesthetics of a miniature digital video camera, youll get the Celica. Its a precision instrument, especially when fitted with the 1.
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8-litre 140bhp engine as seen in the £18,150 Style. For those not familiar with the current Celica line-up, the 140bhp engine models start with an entry-level variant, then progress through Style to the plush Premium version. Should you require yet more power, the 190bhp engine is now available in one guise only, the range-topping T Sport. The Style can be distinguished from its humbler entry-level sibling by its 17-inch alloy wheels and rear spoiler, accoutrements that most buyers will doubtless hanker after.
Inside the Style adds sports pedals and a beefier stereo system. Thats not the sum total of the changes. Although few would have fingered the Celica as a car relinquishing its grip on the here and now,
Toyota have made a few changes to keep it at the top of its game. The car has been upgraded in recent times with a whole package of tweaks to make it stand out on the road and in the showroom.
Modifications have been made to both front and rear shock absorbers in order to create a flatter, more comfortable ride, while at the same time improving traction. The brakes have been given a thorough overhaul too, with the Style getting the same 275mm front brake discs fitted to the T Sport, endowing it with prodigious stopping power. Changes have also been made to the steering to create a more responsive feel, while small aerodynamic modifications have resulted in superior high-speed stability by reducing rear lift. The overall effect is a more planted feel on the road.
"If you can appreciate the aesthetics of a miniature digital video camera youll get this Celica."
The styling modifications Toyota have made are very much of the blink and youll miss it variety, but get the current car side by side with its predecessor and youll agree that its the revisions lend a slightly neater appearance to an already sharkily-styled car. The front grille has been redesigned with a bigger lower intake and the front fog lamps have been made a little more prominent. At the back, the rear lamps now incorporate a double-barrelled effect and a co-ordinated within red-lensed housings. Changes have been made inside the cabin too.
Gone are the slightly garish colour schemes of its predecessor, the current car instead opting for more sobriety in its trim. Eagle-eyed spotters will note that the ancillary controls and audio unit all feature colour coordinated lighting, making them easier to use at night. The heater controls have been changed and the seats are now trimmed with black central sections and red side trims. The two main reasons why people buy Celicas are unchanged however.
First, that wonderful high-revving 1.8-litre engine. And second, that unmistakable sharp-edged styling - still clean, aggressive and particularly stunning from a front three-quarter view. As weve said, the engine continues to be offered in both 140 (VVT-i) and 189bhp (VVTL-i) guises, the latter unit boasting one of the best specific power figures in the world (over 100bhp per litre from a normally aspirated engine).
If you cant stretch to £21,150 for the flagship T-Sport, don't let the comparative lack of power put you off buying the 140bhp Style. Absolute power has corrupted many a cleverly conceived coupe. In any case, the Yamaha-designed VVT-i 1794cc unit is, on paper at least, anything but slow. Indeed, this 1.
8-litre 140bhp Celica's 0-60mph time of 8.7s comfortably beats most other rivals. You can get the most from it too, thanks to a standard six-speed manual gearbox. Older Celicas tended to suffer from premium pricing but this car seems likely to prove a much more sensible proposition.
For one thing, Celicas tend to hold their value. For another, the combined fuel consumption figure of nearly 37mpg and the 185g/km emissions figure should make the Toyota the cheapest car in its class to run. Though there's enough legroom for a couple of adults to sit in the back, headroom is at more of a premium. Having said that, the given space is a lot less cramped than that offered by rivals like Audis TT or Alfas GTV. We could go on to talk about split-folding rear seats and useful luggage space but we'd be in danger of coming over all practical. For a while, it looked as if the new breed of powerful upstart hot hatches would put a major dent in Celica sales figures, offering more performance per pound. It seems as if the British car buying public are more educated than they often get credit for, understanding the Celica to be a scalpel sharp and beautifully balanced car, even with just 140bhp under the bonnet. The latest range of revisions should be enough to keep the car on most shortlists, and the Style version we examine here looks destined to be the volume seller.
The Celica, in one form or another, has been on sale in the UK for more than thirty years now. Durability, it seems, never goes out of style.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Toyota Celica Style
PRICE: £18,150 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 13E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 185g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.7s / Max Speed 127mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 27.4mpg / (extra urban) 45.6mpg / (combined) 36.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front and side airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height (mm) 4335/1735/1432
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