Toyota Files Trademark Application for ‘GR Celica’ Nameplate

Toyota recently filed a trademark application for the ‘GR Celica’ nameplate in Brazil. Launch imminent?

In case you missed it, Toyota has previously confirmed that the beloved Celica nameplate is making a comeback, set to go on sale alongside the next-gen GR86 coupe in the near future. Now, it seems the beloved sportscar might return sooner than we thought, as a newly uncovered trademark filing for a ‘GR Celica’ nameplate was recently made in Brazil.

According to CarScoops, said trademark application was made to Brazil’s National Institute of Industrial Property and Ministry of Economy with an application date of Jan 15 and a publishing date of Feb 4. Beyond the GR Celica name, however, there’s not much that can be derived from the application, with no blueprints or rendered images of the upcoming model.

Toyota Celica Mk5 (left) & Mk7 (right)

With Toyota securing a trademark in Brazil, this could indicate that the new GR Celica will be a global product, possibly going on sale beyond the usual Japanese and North American markets. But then again, there’s nothing solid here to confirm this, not to forget its availability in overseas markets will ultimately depend on Toyota’s strategy, as well as whether the new car’s powertrain can meet the ever-stringent emission requirements in certain countries.

Speaking of powertrains, previous rumours suggest that the new GR Celica will use Toyota’s new 2.0-litre 4-cyl engine that is capable of delivering up to 400 HP in road-going form. Given that Toyota recently showcased this engine in a mid-engined GR Yaris M Concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this year, many have speculated that the new Celica might adopt a mid-engine layout, thus breaking a tradition that spans seven generations.

Not to forget, we could also see the new GR Celica using the same GR-Four AWD setup as seen on the current crop of GR cars, which seems very likely given the rally pedigree of its predecessors.

As of writing, Toyota has yet to announce the launch date for the seventh-gen Toyota Celica, but we believe that it will debut alongside other next-gen GR sportscars, including the aforementioned GR 86, and perhaps the long-awaited successor to the MR2, too. Now that a trademark filing application has been found, perhaps it won’t be too long before we get to see the new Celica in the flesh.