Although the engine has dropped from 2.2 litres to 1.8, you would be hard pressed to find many complaints. Those high lift camshaft settings come into play at 6000 rpm and once coolant temperatures reach 60 degrees, but the performance builds progressively to that level anyway. What it means is the car will perform strongly below 6000 rpm and then deliver a manic surge of acceleration from that mark all the way to the redline at 8000 rpm. The manual box allows this wild side to be explored best, although pushing the stick to the right in the automatic to access the 'E-shift' buttons on the steering wheel also proves more adventurous than a normal 'slush box'. The cars revs strongly and freely, the gear throws are short and mostly smooth and the clutch feels solid underfoot.
Throttle response is excellent and the engine growl is more pronounced in the manual version.
In the chase for sports supremacy, Celica has been stiffened up, the wheelbase lengthened and the rear suspension changed to double wishbones. It produces a firmer, more sports-like, ride which transmits some road shock into the cabin. The damping is well sorted on all but the biggest mid-corner bumps, which can produce feedback through the wheel. You will notice minor road imperfections at lower speeds around town, but the mix of firm ride and 'top shelf' handling is a suitable compromise. Noise levels are subdued with only a hint of engine harshness near the redline and some tyre noise on rougher surfaces.