Some footage out of Portugal has revealed a new Toyota rally car test mule. Though wrapped in camouflage, it’s clear that the profile isn’t that of a GR Yaris. It looks like a small coupe, leading many outlets to claim that it’s a preview of the next Toyota Celica.
🚗 Toyota WRC27?
🎥 Márcio Pereira pic.twitter.com/xkKNzQhM8a— eWRC-results (@eWRCresults) February 26, 2026
The prototype was caught by Márcio Pereira in the Algarve region of Portugal. Toyota technical director Tom Fowler confirmed with Dirtfish that the car is indeed a Toyota and has logged nearly 2000 km of testing. Fowler declined to name the model that the car will bear, but that hasn’t stopped many outlets from claiming it’s the new Celica.
The disguised car shows big fender flares and a large wing, but what is perhaps most interesting is a swooping beltline that recalls that of the seventh- and last-generation Celica. Interestingly, the car is quite stubby, but there could be a couple of explanations. The WRC27 regulations, which state that manufacturers can put any body over a spaceframe chassis. In other words, Toyota could force a Celica body onto a GR Yaris drivetrain. Or, the mule could simply be using a modified Yaris chassis.
In any case, the car will debut for the 2027 season, which would coincide with reports that the Celica (or possibly MR2) prototype is scheduled for a 2027 Tokyo Auto Salon debut.
