Quote:
Originally Posted by Jordo!
"Celica" is a totally appropriate nameplate for this car for all the reasons noted by zigzag, and will automatically gain more interest from consumers than it would lose.
Calling it "Corolla" would have the opposite effect, and any other more esoteric or new nameplate would be an unknown to most consumers.
Toyota is trying to develop a car that will be loved by car geeks but also be of interest to Joe Q public.
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Again, I say it was a mistake to market the AE86 in the U.S. as a corolla. It probably would've done much better with its own unique name. Toyota will most definitely not be badging this as a corolla, that is for certain.
Celica makes sense in a lot of terms. Zigzag pointed out that it makes sense because of the first generation Celica's being RWD (they were, and they rocked, and are awesome cars). That only us enthusiasts get the whole "86" bit. This also works the other way around. Joe Q public, to me, makes out the Celica to be more of a secretary fun car because of the past 2 models. They were stylish, yes, but pretty meh on the fun factor, and are more often seen being driven by Susy Blondey Hair than a car enthusiast. Only us car enthusiasts know about the Celicas true history, and how awesome it used to be.
I've driven a few of the newer ones and can honestly say there wasn't much fun to be had in those cars, but I'm also a RWD freak, so basically any FWD is just going to be bland and boring to me.
I say it won't be badged as a Celica because this is a car that's supposed to completely re-invent Toyota's image. And using the old image (via naming) of the Celica won't help in this regard. It has an awesome history, and also, a pretty bland current perspective.
It'll be a new name to usher in a new age of Toyota's.