| 4-speed
automatic | 5-speed
manual | 6-speed manual }} }} In July 1999, Toyota began production of the seventh-generation Celica, with sales beginning late that year. It closely resembled the XYR concept with the exception of the front bumper and rear spoiler, while omitting the previously available coupe body style. This new generation of the Celica was an element of
Toyota Project Genesis, a failed effort to bring younger buyers to the marque in the United States. Efforts were made to make the car light in weight and cost less to produce. Power window and door lock controls were placed in the center console so only one set was necessary for both doors. Initial sunroofs were made of polymer plastic instead of the traditional glass. The seventh-generation Celica was assembled by Kanto Auto Works at its Higashi-Fuji plant in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Only the Liftback body style was offered with the choice of two different engines. The ZZT230 model is powered by a relatively economical 1.8 L 4-cylinder
1ZZ-FE engine rated at and the ZZT231 model is powered by a higher-performance 1.8 L 4-cylinder
2ZZ-GE engine rated at (in Europe and Japan), co-developed with
Yamaha, the latter featuring a two-step variable valve lift control in conjunction with its variable valve timing. Unlike its predecessors, the seventh-generation Celica did not offer an option for an all-wheel drive drivetrain. In 2004,
CNNMoney.com rated the Celica as one of the best cars to purchase for fuel economy. Exports of the Celica ceased in July 2005 for North American and Australian markets. However, until mid-May, customers could still order one, although it was advised they took action before that time ended. The last Celica was rolled off production line on 21 April 2006, after 36 years and seven generations. In its last year of production, the Celica was only officially sold in Japan and Europe.
North America In the US and Canada, two models were offered; the base model GT and the higher performance GT-S. All models were Liftback only. All models featured dual front airbags, daytime running lights (DRL) with auto-on parking and headlights, and 4 cup holders: two in the front and two in the rear. Power door lock and power window switches were mounted on the center console to reduce costs. Rear seats were contoured for only 2 passengers and can split down 50/50 to increase cargo capacity. Two-speed front wipers had variable intermittent adjustment. The rear wiper had a single speed and fixed intermittent speed. Windshield and rear window washers were also standard. In the interest of reducing weight, the optional sunroof was made of polymer plastics instead of glass. In later models, the sunroof was made of glass. Other options include ABS, rear spoiler, fog lights (for GT, standard on GT-S), 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) and liftback cargo cover. The GT was powered by the 1ZZ-FE engine rated at at 6,400 rpm and of torque at 4,200 rpm. 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. This is a similar engine used on the Matrix, Corolla, and MR2 Spyder. Transmission choices comprised a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. The GT has standard front disc brakes and rear drum brakes, 195/60/15 tires with standard wheel covers or optional alloy wheels. The GT-S was powered by the 2ZZ-GE engine rated at at 7,600 rpm and torque at 6,800 rpm. The engine featured Toyota's VVTL-i (Variable Valve Timing and Lift control with intelligence). A second stage valve lift control for intake was added to the variable intake cam phase timing. Variants of this engine were offered in the Matrix XRS, Corolla XRS and the
Lotus Elise (with a Lotus ECU which added 10 bhp). Buyers had the option of a four-speed automatic with shift buttons on the steering wheel, or a six-speed manual. The base tire size was 205/55/15 but the optional size offered was 205/50/16. All GT-S models had four-wheel disc brakes and metal pedals. Manual transmission shifters and all steering wheels were upgraded to leather-wrapped. New in 2001, for the 2002 model year, was the “Action Package” which offered an aggressively styled front bumper with wider grille, rocker panels, rear bumper diffuser, and higher rear spoiler – this package could also be retrofitted to earlier 7th generation models. Liftback cargo covers were standard along with fog lights for models without the "Action Package". Initially this body kits option was the same as JDM Mechanical Sports. 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. TRD USA offered performance upgrades such as lowering springs, dampers, anti-sway bars, disc brake pads, air filters, exhaust, short-shift kits (manual transmissions), and body kits. The exhaust offered an increase of , albeit mostly at higher rpm. The Celica received a facelift for the 2003 model year with the restyled front bumper and rear combination lamps. The interior was mildly restyled, a power antenna replaced the fixed one. A new option was High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps. JBL Premium 3-in-1 ETR/Cassette/CD was standard on the GT-S, or optional for the GT. For the 2004 model year, all models were fitted with a cabin air filter. The Action Package body kit was restyled for the 2004 model year with a different front bumper, side and rear spoiler which no longer bore a similarity to the Mechanical Sports package offered in Japan.
Decline In July 2004, Toyota announced the Celica (as well as the
MR2) would be discontinued in the United States at the end of the 2005 model year due to a lack of sales. Celica sales hit 52,406 units in 2000, but dropped sharply to 14,856 in 2003. Just 8,710 Celicas were sold in 2004, and only 3,113 were sold in 2005. At that time, the sports coupe market in general had been rapidly shrinking in that region, in part due to the
1997 Asian financial crisis, the effects of the collapse of the
Japanese asset price bubble (also known in Japan as the "bubble economy" or the
Lost Decades), and the rising
yen that pushed up prices in overseas markets. Sales of all sports coupes started to decline in recent years, and customers began to choose other vehicles such as
SUVs. The 2005 model year was the last year of the Celica in the US.
Japan The Japanese models continued to carry SS-I and SS-II trim levels. The SS-I is powered by the 1ZZ-FE engine while the SS-II is powered by the 2ZZ-GE engine. The SS-II also could be ordered with the Super Strut Package which included super strut suspension, rear strut bar, 16-inch alloys, metal pedals, and colored rocker panels. The SS-II had climate control AC with a digital display. Options included the choice of the Elegant Sports Version with a front lip spoiler, headlight covers, and smoked-transparent fuel lid, or the Mechanical Sports Version with a full body kit (sportier front bumper with bigger grille, hood spoiler, rear bumper spoiler, side contoured spoilers or rocker panels, over fenders, and higher trunk spoiler). Toyota also released a limited-production version of the 7th generation called the TRD Sports M based on the SS-II. This version was rated at and featured a reinforced unibody, Sports Interface meter combination with center white tachometer and 240 km/h speedometer, TRD body kits with raised hood scoop and slightly different rear spoiler, and revised suspension components. The Sports M was only sold exclusively in Japan. The Japanese market Celica was updated with minor changes in August 2002, noticeably with the restyled front bumper and rear combination lamps. The reduction of engine displacement reflected a drop off in sales to Japanese customers due to the annual
road tax liability of previous generations.
Europe 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 European Celica has rear fog lights on the rear bumper, and the trunk spoiler is slightly different from other regions' versions. The base 1.8 VVT-i also came with standard 16-inch alloy wheels which are the same as higher grade models in Japan, North America, and Asia Pacific. Premium and Style Packages were offered for the 1.8 VVT-i model. The 1.8 VVTL-i T-Sport received 17-inch 8-spoke alloy wheels, climate control air conditioning with digital display, and full leather interior. The Celica GT debuted in the UK in 2005. It is unrelated to the GT trim offered in North America as it is powered by the more powerful 2ZZ-GE VVTL-i engine. The British GT is actually the T-Sport trim with more aggressive body kit, 17-inch double 5-spoke alloy wheels, 30 mm lowered suspension and part leather part Alcantara interior.
Asia Pacific In Australia and New Zealand, the Celica was only offered with 2ZZ-GE engine in two trim levels, SX and ZR. The SX was fitted with 15-inch alloy wheels, CD player, electric windows and mirrors. 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. All models have front and rear disc brakes. Optional extras was the 4-speed tiptronic Automatic, air conditioning, and metallic paint. TRD Sportivo body kits (which are the same as Mechanical Sports trim in Japan) were also available. In Thailand and Hong Kong, the Celica was offered in a single trim level, similar to the Australian ZR with the 2ZZ-GE engine. Although not officially imported by the official Toyota dealerships, the Celica based on the Japanese market models was imported and sold through parallel import dealerships in some Asian markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. In Indonesia, for the pre-facelift models the Australian-spec SX and ZR trims, which are the same as those offered in Australia and New Zealand, were offered along with the Japanese SS-I and SS-II trims. After the facelift, most of the imported units were the Japanese SS-II trim models. == Nameplate revival ==