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The Crown is back! No, not a new season of the hit TV show. The long-running nameplate from Toyota that has been a favourite of Japanese taxi operators for decades.
Toyota has ripped the covers from its new Crown that will replace the 15th-generation model that was released in 2018. But this time, things are very different.
Instead of rolling out yet another conservative large sedan, Toyota will offer four - yes four - different body styles as part of its 16th-generation Crown model strategy.
The first to go on sale will be what Toyota refers to as the Crown Crossover, which is a mish-mash of a sedan and an SUV, and is not too far off the concept of Citroen’s forthcoming C5 X.
Further down the track Toyota will also launch the Crown Sport, which is like a large wagon-like hatchback with what appears to be a slightly jacked-up ride height. It has a similar shape to the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo and Taycan Cross Turismo models.
There’s also the regular Crown sedan that Toyota says “meets the needs of chauffeurs” - and more than likely, Japanese taxi drivers. The Sedan has a very similar shape to the Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle with its short and stubby boot and long bonnet.
Finally Toyota will also offer an Estate version of the Crown which has a traditional SUV shape and is designed with ample space in mind.
But it’s the Crossover model that will come first and according to Toyota, it will be sold in about 40 countries, including the United States for the first time since the 1970s.
The Crown was sold in Australia too in the 1960s, 70s and 80s and was discontinued in the late 80s.
Anyone hoping to relive their Crowning glory, however, will be disappointed to learn it’s not headed Down Under.
“Toyota Australia is continually studying the market for new opportunities to offer exciting new products to Australian customers. At this stage however, we have no plans to introduce the Crown model or any of its sub variants to the Australian market,” Toyota Australia said in a statement.
In America, it is likely to be pitched as Toyota’s flagship model, giving buyers a premium car with a Toyota badge, positioned just under prestige sister brand Lexus.
The Crown Crossover has a long body and short boot, slimline head and tail-lights and two-tone exterior paint. It features a Crown logo on the bonnet and a Toyota badge on the tailgate.
The interior adopts a large 12.3-inch display screen and high-end materials, while the console will be familiar to anyone who has spent time in a Camry or Kluger.
It is underpinned by the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) that forms the basis of most new Toyotas including the RAV4 and Kluger, and the Crown will use McPherson struts in the front and a multi-link suspension in the rear, helping to ensure a smooth ride.
Toyota says it is more spacious than before and the higher hip point and larger wheels make entry and exit easier, as well as aiding visibility.
For now at least, the Crown will be available exclusively with hybrid powertrains. The entry grades will use a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine paired with an electric motor and newly developed nickel-hydrogen battery that Toyota says will produce “class-leading” fuel efficiency.
Higher-grade versions will come with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, electric motor and nickel-hydrogen battery, making for a total system output of about 254kW - more than models like the Lexus NX450h+ plug-in hybrid (227kW). This one is paired with a continuously variable transmission.
Depending on the market, the Crown Crossover will be available as part of Toyota's Kinto car subscription service.
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