Toyota Introduces Entire Crown Series In Japan

Toyota's unusual sedan-crossover mashup might be considered a disgrace to the Crown nameplate for some, but this eye-catching new body style isn't the only one you can buy. At least, not in its home market.

Image Credit: Noriaki Mitsuhashi/N-RAK PHOTO AGENCY

While the regular Crown will have its Japanese launch this fall, Toyota has also previewed three other vehicles with the Crown badge. Each one carries the unique styling cues from the lifted sedan version, but in more conventional sedan, wagon, and crossover body styles. And upon studying the lack of tailpipes throughout the new Crown series, we came to the conclusion that Japan's new selection of premium Crowns will most likely be full EVs.

Crown (Sedan Type)

For those who miss the beauty of the old Crown, this looks to be the perfect solution. Its overall silhouette is quite familiar, taking on a long footprint and rear-wheel drive profile. The signature look is clear at the front, with thin headlights and a large grille positioned closer to the bumper. It's hard to say whether this Crown sedan will offer as much Lexus-level luxury as it appears to from the outside, as gluing a spindle grille to its front end would make a convincing LS successor.

Crown (Estate Type)

Toyota calls this the Crown Estate, which is another word for wagon. The lifted ride height has us leaning towards calling this a crossover, and it would fit right in as one if Toyota ever brought this to the US. Otherwise, there is no doubt that this Crown is a looker. The model shown wears a stylish two-tone exterior paint job and black wheels, which are likely exclusive to the high-end trims. The ultra-thin lights are another highlight, which sets this wagon apart from the other Crowns.

Crown (Sport Type)

This particular Crown is identical to one of the many Toyota EV concepts we saw earlier this year, meaning that this small crossover will undoubtedly have a fully electric powertrain. Toyota calls this the 'sport' crossover, and the design says that loud and clear. That said, this model's styling is on the excessive side compared to the rest of the Crown family. The most noticeable detail is the distinct headlight signature, which is made up of an LED line that curves up and around to create a split-headlight look.

What do you think of these new Crowns?

Images: Toyota