Introduction of 2-Liter Turbo Engine

Toyota's flagship sedan, the "Crown," has undergone a minor model change. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Crown's debut, making this model change a significant milestone.

While the exterior largely maintains its concept, subtle changes have been made to the front grille, bumper, and light shapes. Toyota explains that these modifications result in a sportier appearance for the Athlete series and an enhanced sense of elegance for the Royal series.

Toyota Crown Royal

Newly installed 2.0-liter turbo engine "8AR-FTS"

In terms of powertrain, models in the Athlete series now feature a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder turbo engine, previously introduced in Lexus models. This engine produces a maximum output of 235 ps (173 kW) at 5,200-5,800 rpm and a maximum torque of 350 Nm (35.7 kgm) between 1,650-4,400 rpm. It is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and achieves a fuel economy of 13.4 km/ℓ, the best among non-hybrid models.

Naturally, the previously available 3.0-liter V6, 2.5-liter V6, and the hybrid model combining a 2.5-liter inline-4 with an electric motor will continue to be sold.

For this minor model change, body rigidity has been improved through the use of structural adhesives and the addition of spot welds in over 90 locations. Furthermore, the increased rigidity in the suspension mounting points, which could have led to a harsher ride, has been optimized by refining the shock absorbers, resulting in high handling performance and ride comfort.

Special 12 Colors Inspired by the Beauty of Japan's Four Seasons

Developed as a domestic-exclusive model and only available for purchase in Japan, the Crown now leverages this exclusivity to fully showcase "Japan Quality."

Prior to this minor model change, limited editions in pink, young grass green, and sky blue generated buzz. For the new model, in addition to the standard body colors, a special color option called the "Japan Color Selection Package" is available. Exterior colors include 12 Japanese names: Kurenai, Honoka, Akaneiro, Sora, Gunjo, Aoiro, Byakuya, Hisui, Tokiwa-iro, Kurumi, Kokuyo, and Byakko. The interior can be chosen from three colors: white, black, and kogane. Interior and exterior colors can be freely combined.

Of course, it's not just about aesthetics; the specifications are also optimized for Japan's automotive environment, including a 1,800mm overall width that fits in most domestic multi-story parking garages, and a minimum turning radius of 5.2 meters for easy maneuverability on narrow streets and in tight parking spaces.

Interior of the "Kogane" Japan Color Selection Package

A poster depicting the 12 colors represented by 12 cities. All read "CAN'T BUY CROWN IN (City Name)"

Furthermore, the world-first adoption of ITS Connect is a notable feature. This system supports safe driving by receiving information about road conditions, such as those not detectable by sensors, from roadside infrastructure and other vehicles.

By utilizing information from the road, it alerts the driver with an audible and visual warning when there is a pedestrian crossing or oncoming traffic when the vehicle intends to move off from a right-turn waiting position (specifically, when the driver's foot moves from the brake to the accelerator). It also provides a sound and visual alert if the vehicle continues towards an intersection with a red light without slowing down.

In vehicle-to-vehicle communication, by incorporating information about the preceding vehicle's deceleration and acceleration into the adaptive cruise control, smoother auto-cruising is achieved. Additionally, it alerts the driver and indicates the distance and direction when an ambulance is approaching.

While all of these features require the development of roadside equipment and onboard vehicle infrastructure, Toyota stated that they are working with various parties to promote their adoption.

The prices for the new Crown range from 3.88 to 5.33 million yen for the Athlete series 2-liter turbo models, 4,007,000 to 5,467,000 yen for the 2.5-liter V6, 5.24 to 6.10 million yen for the 3.5-liter V6, and 4.31 to 5.986 million yen for the hybrid. For the Royal series, prices range from 3.73 to 5.377 million yen for the 2.5-liter V6, and 4.31 to 5.906 million yen for the hybrid.

The top-tier Majesta series has also received similar enhancements, including chassis reinforcement, the installation of IT Connect, and minor design changes. This model is exclusively available as a hybrid, priced between 6.33 and 6.54 million yen.

Toyota Crown Majesta