Toyota awards four dramatic new crowns to an iconic model

Toyota was introduced as a flagship sedan in 1955 and was replaced by the Century in 1967. Toyota has taken the covers off the all-new Crown, which will return to South Africa next year after a nearly five-decade absence.

The most dramatic realignment and restructuring in the Crown’s 67-year history, the sixteenth generation no longer comes exclusively as a sedan, but as a crossover in addition to the sedan, a station wagon and what Toyota calls a sporty crossover.

While the latter trio remain concepts from now on, despite appearing production-ready, the crossover sedan takes center stage, with Toyota confirming availability in 40 markets rather than primarily Japan.

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With rumors about the Crown’s move from sedan to crossover/SUV surfaced in 2020, weeks after Toyota afforded it face lift After the debut of the model internally known as the S220 in 2018, the newcomer forgoes the body style of the three-box sedan for a coupé-like crossover that is essentially that of the Subaru WRX.

Based on the TNGA-K platform used by Toyota Harrier, venza, RAV4 and Camryas well as Lexus RX and NXthe high-slung crown features a similar front design to the bZ4Xcomplete with fairing around the wheel arches.

The set is offered in up to twelve colors with a two-tone option, wheel sizes ranging from 19 to 21 inches depending on market, with the sloping roofline and hatchback appearance culminating in a rounded decklid with a full-width LED light bar and integrated skid plate the underside of the bumper.

With an overall length of 4,928mm, the Crown crossover has a wheelbase of 2,850mm, a width of 1,839mm and a height of 1,539mm, which is vastly superior not only to the Camry but also to the model it is meant to replace in North America that avalon

While unsurprisingly, the Crown doesn’t come close to the dimensions of the Century, it comes standard on hybrid models with all-wheel drive or the E-Four system, which can send up to 80% of available grunt to the rear axle.

In addition to the TNGA-K platform, Toyota has upgraded the MacPherson strut front suspension and revised the rear multi-link design to improve not only a better ride but also the “solid straight-line stability that is characteristic of the Crown”.

As well as sharper steering, higher-end models come standard with the adaptive variable suspension and what Toyota calls Active Cornering Assist, which activates traction control when understeer is detected.

Inside, very little of the old crown remains, apart from the logo embossed on the steering wheel, which will replace the Toyota badge in Japan.

Developed largely by Toyota’s North American division, a market to which the Crown will return for the first time since 1972, the overall design shares parts of other TNGA-K models, with the standard infotainment system being a 12.3-inch affair complete with over-the-air updates, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Complemented by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, the Crown features a three-position drive mode selector; Eco, Normal and Sport, dual-zone automatic climate control as standard, wireless smartphone charger, six-speaker sound system and power front seats.

Reserved for top models is eleven-speaker JBL audio, ambient lighting, keyless entry, ventilated front seats, a surround-view camera system, and heated rear seats.

Standard safety and driver assistance technologies include Dynamic Cruise Control with Radar, Lane Departure Warning and Assist, Rear Seat Alert, Automatic High Beam Assist, Pre-Collision with Pedestrian Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Tracking Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, Traffic Sign Recognition and Hill Start Assist.

Up front, a choice of two hybrid drive units is offered; the well-known 2.5-litre, whose output has not been disclosed, and the new 2.4-litre turbo called Hybrid Max are said to produce 255 kW, according to reports.

As usual, a CVT is the only transmission option on the 2.5, with a six-speed automatic being standard on the Hybrid Max, along with a Sport+ mode, as well as the aforementioned E-Four setup.

No further details were released, but expect Toyota to release full information over the coming months.

Going on sale soon in Japan, no price details have been given, but expect a possible emergence in the coming weeks and months.

For now, Toyota is otherwise tight about the Crown’s return to South Africa, saying sales will start from the first quarter of next year.