Toyota Ends 2

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. says it will discontinue sales of its Japanese-built Celica and MR2 sports cars by the end of the '05 model year, although availability will remain in other markets, a spokesman tells Ward's.

The Celica is in its seventh generation. It was introduced in the U.S. in 1971. Sales for the current generation never hit stride, falling to 790 units in June. Last year's sales totaled 14,856 units.

The mid-engine, 2-seat MR2 Spyder always was intended to be a lower-volume product. But it never became a halo vehicle. Sales (less than 3,000 units last year) missed targets.

The Celica and MR2, along with the Echo, were marketed by Toyota in an early attempt at attracting Generation Y. That's given way Toyota's recently launched Scion youth brand.