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in New Celica GT Copley News Service Every new car comes with a window, or "Monroney," sticker, and I found the price sheet for the Celica GT-S test car sucked into the grille and half chewed up by the fan.
Last year, Toyota gave the Celica GT a total fashion and performance makeover, and honed the higher performance GT-S model into a glinty little ticket-snatcher. The new model goes right for the heart of the young buyer, but the GT-S isn't necessarily for the weak of heart. The GT-S is a sports car to be appreciated - and exercised. Available as base GT and up-level GT-S, prices start at $17,440 for the GT, including the $455 destination charge. The GT-S test car stickered at $24,490 and came with such extras as 16-inch alloy wheels and tires ($60), side air bags ($250), leather seats ($620) and a rear spoiler ($435). The GT-S also features power windows and door locks, cruise control, fog lights, aluminum sport pedals and an 8-speaker sound system. The new model is not that different in dimensions from the old Celica. It is about 3.75 inches shorter, slightly roomier, lighter with more horsepower and better fuel mileage. An all-aluminum 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine with double overhead cams and 16 valves is the foundation for both models. The GT uses a version of variable-valve technology to spin up 140 horsepower, yet it gets 28 mpg around town and 34 on the highway. (Quite an improvement over last year's 22/28 for the manual shifter.) Transmission choices are the 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic.
Rated at 180 horsepower and 133 foot-pounds of torque, Road & Track says the GT-S will do 0-to-60 mph in 6.8 seconds. A few horsepower here and there may not sound like much on paper, but its the curb weight that counts. The GT-S weighs only 2,500 pounds and all that VVT action makes for engine-howling fun on the back roads. The GT-S ratchets up the driving experience with a 6-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic with E-Shift. Slide the shifter to the manual mode and use a pair of thumb buttons on the steering wheel to flick through gear changes. It's a very usable automatic even in performance driving, but then so is the 6-speed. On twisty back roads the GT-S is tireless in its pursuit of apexes. Slip the shifter into gear and the metal engages with the cleanness of cross-cut steel. The gearbox works with close-ratio finesse to push the engine note to a well-machined whine. Push a little harder through a hairpin and the G-forces stretch into a big smile but the tires won't let go. If only this car were as much fun in the daily commute. You'll be using all those manually shifted gears in daily driving, which adds up to a lot of arm and leg work.
Inside, it's still a cockpit-snug four-seater (2+2), with the prime space up front, but the back seats are better than nothing for short-term passenger transit. Because the Celica is a 3-door hatchback, there is spacious trunk space and the lift-over height is easily cleared by most anyone in the age bracket for this car. Older folks will lose patience with the Celica's low to the ground entry and exit. And the long doors make it even more of a challenge when parked next to a car at the mall. The Celica GT-S is inspiring in its go-kart quickness, and Toyota did what it could to build in function for storage spaces, cup holders, even seat backs that fold forward to expand the hatch, but there's room for a little more everyday cross-training comfort.
Safety equipment -- Dual front air bags, side-impact beams, whiplash injury lessening (WIL) front seats, 3-point seat belts with pretensioners and force limiters, optional ABS, electronic brake proportioning and side air bags. Standard equipment -- Air conditioning, 8-speaker AM-FM-CD-cassette stereo, power mirrors/windows/locks, halogen projector-beam headlights, tinted glass, cruise control, fog lights, aluminum sport pedals, variable intermittent wipers and rear intermittent wiper, rear-window defogger, 6-way adjustable driver's seat, center console with storage box, front and rear cup holders, tilt wheel.
Base MSRP -- $21,910, including $455 destination fee; price as tested, $24,780 Options on test car -- anti-lock brakes, $550; 16-inch alloy wheels and P205/50R tires; power tilt and slide moon roof, $880; side air bags, $250; rear spoiler, $435; leather seats, $620; carpeted floor mats, $75.
PLUSES -- Lots more personality and performance than the old Celica. MINUSES -- Maybe too much star fighter styling and not enough cross-training practicality. News Index | Features Index |
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AutoWord Copyright© 2001 Copley News Service |
Who knows how it got there, but it was an appropriate calling card for this little sport coupe with a shriek-and-shred personality.
The GT-S engine was co-developed with Yamaha and uses a more sophisticated variable valve timing, or VVTL-I, which means variable valve timing and lift with intelligence control. The electronic system bunches up steady power from 6000 rpm to redline at 7,800. 
And this nicely muscled wedge of future-tech styling makes for over-involved sightlines. Parking and backing up require a couple extra glances to be sure the area is clear. 