LUCKY SEVEN

Once a staple of the UK’s sports car scene, the last Celica rolled off the production line in April 2006 and it’s that final seventh generation that interests us here. Where some previous iterations had drawn on Toyota’s rally heritage the T230 instead concentrated on being an engaging sports car that was equally at home on the daily commute as it was providing B-road thrills.

Revealed as a concept at the 1999 Detroit Motor Show, there was an edgier, more angular look for the new model and European sales began in November the same year. Just two engines were available, both 1.8 four-cylinder units with the entrylevel VVT-i motor producing 140bhp; that was joined shortly after by the 189bhp VVTL-i unit (badged 190) that boasted variable valve lift technology, an impressive specific output of more than 100bhp per litre and notably punchy performance.