My navigator on the cruise brought up this exact question an my answer was this:
It can't compete because it's not the same market segment. Yes, there will be some people that might be swayed but you can't take a 2door, rear drive sports coupe out of the 370Z/RX8/TT/RCZ market and put it against a hot hatch jus becaus the price point is comparable. If someone wants a rear drive 2door coupe, they won't be looking at the polo GTI.

Could it take the mantle? Maybe, depending on the price bracket cutoff but to try and salvage Toyota's brand rep for sports cars, this car will literally have to be flawless. The last celica destroyed the rep of the celsior, aristo, soarer and supra so to try and regain that credibility is going to be hard. Will it take the crown...... I say no. All reports are very good but consider the raw data and it's just not adding up to a win in my opinion.