Toyota Motor Corporation has unveiled what it calls the "Crown for a new era," or the new Crown large-sized sedan that clearly demonstrates the car company’s drive for innovation and pushing the limits in design.
To recall, the new Crown models unveiled recently align with the diverse values and lifestyles of the brand’s customers. The first to be released was the Crossover, a vehicle combining a sedan and an SUV.
But since the recent Crown vehicles were revisiting the Crown's origins and the original Crown was a sedan, the team also decided to build a new Sedan. They created a car that offers excellent ride comfort and a high-quality driving experience, as well as relaxing space meeting the needs of chauffeured cars.
“The new style redefines the traditional sedan, a reinvention reaching for new value as the ‘new formal’ serving both personal and business purposes,” Toyota said in a statement.
With sights on a hydrogen-powered society, the flagship Crown Sedan also gets a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) version that emits no carbon dioxide (CO2) while in operation. It accompanies a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) version, the choice of many customers, to increase their options and meet diverse needs while contributing to the popularization of electrified vehicles and the realization of carbon neutrality.
General design philosophy
The new Crown Sedan’s interior boasts of the island architecture emphasized with a large wood-grain panel extending in a continuous line from the instrument panel to the doors on either side and a console that appears to rise out of the panel. A composed yet spacious interior space is the result.
Illumination is choreographed according to a Japanese aesthetic incorporating the spirit of omotenashi, or hospitality. LEDs supporting 64-tone color switching are positioned at both ends of the instrument panel, in the leg space of the front seats, and on the sides of the rear door trims. The indirect lighting, occurring as a gentle, lantern-like glow, gives the cabin depth and comfort.
Spacious interior
The Crown Sedan’s three-meter wheelbase allows for spacious rear seats, meeting the needs of chauffeured cars. Ample legroom makes it easier to move about for a smooth entry and exit.
Numerous hospitality features (including relaxation features and power sunshades) help create the ultimate mobility space.
Optimization of suspension settings and control over damping force with an Adaptive Vehicle Suspension system ensure that unevenness on road surfaces does not carry to the occupants. Rolling on turns and vibrations from rough roads are also minimized.
Avoiding orthodox looks
For its exterior, the new Crown Sedan sports a design philosophy called the "new formal."
Taking advantage of a rear-wheel drive platform, flowing proportions along the horizontal contribute to an elegant, flowing appearance not seen in earlier sedans.
The combination of a hammerhead design, emphasizing a sharp, wide feel, and a large Under Priority trapezoid grille with a vertical pattern form a front fascia that underscores the Crown's status as Toyota's flagship vehicle. At the rear, the taillights in a straight line from side to side emphasize the wide feel.
2.5-liter multi-stage hybrid system
The Crown Sedan is the first Toyota vehicle equipped with a newly developed 2.5-liter multi-stage hybrid system. The engine and two motors, combined with stepped gears, achieve a driving torque that supports acceleration from all speed ranges. In this system, maximum engine output is available from around 43 kph compared to 140 kph with existing systems.
Engine revs stay low at high speeds, enabling quiet operation with low fuel consumption. While downsizing engine displacement, both powerful dynamic performance and fuel efficiency are achieved.
Meanwhile, the FCEV version run on hydrogen, a fuel that can be produced from a variety of energy sources and contributes to the preservation of the global environment and energy security. They are electrified vehicles that emit no CO2 while in operation.
Equipped with three high-pressure hydrogen tanks and fuel cells, it is possible to drive around 820 kilometers per three-minute hydrogen refill. Torque surges from the moment the accelerator is pressed, enabling the smooth increase in power expected of an FCEV, while the quietness and riding comfort allowed by an electric motor are also achieved.
All told, the new Crown Sedan truly represents the large sedan for the new era.
