The seventh-generation Toyota Celica, introduced in September 1999, was unlike any other Celica that preceded it. It was developed with the key phrase, The Reinstatement of the Sports Specialty, which means that Toyota wanted to reflect sports cars of yesteryear, while still possessing modern day technology.

The exterior design was carried out by CALTY, Toyota's design center in Southern California. The look of the new car bordered on radical, highlighted by headlights that were vertically elongated triangles, and the rear combination lights characterized by their upright rectangular shape. The car's profile was reminiscent of more expensive sports cars, defined by an extreme wedge shape. The interior employed a special layout dubbed the crossover cockpit, which provided equal room for both the driver and his/her passenger. There were rear seats, but weren't fit for anyone taller than six feet. The car was smaller than its predecessor, with an overall length, width, and height of 170.6 inches, 68.3 inches, and 51.3 inches, respectively.

Two engine grades were offered in Japan, the SS-I and SS-II, both of which were 1.8-liter DOHC inline-4. The SS-I featured VVT-i and put out 143 HP, while the SS-II had VVTL-i producing 187 HP. The SS-II was also...