Toyota Launches All-New Crown In Japan With Connected Features As Standard

What you’re looking at is the all-new Toyota Crown and more specifically the 15^th generation of the big Toyota saloon.

Toyota says that the new Crown is the company’s first-generation connected car, as all models will come with a data communication module as standard, offering 24/7 connectivity services focused on safety, security, comfort and convenience based on real-time driving data.

Based on the TNGA architecture, the new Toyota Crown comes with multi-link suspension front and rear and is available in rear- and all-wheel drive versions. The new Toyota promises to offer “outstanding handling and a responsive driving performance”, partly thanks to its development at the Nurburgring.

“In inheriting the passion from the early days of the company when the first generation Crown was born, I wanted the world to see the ‘Japanese brains and brawn’ that went into developing this car,” said Akira Akiyama, chief engineer in charge of development. “It was with this spirit that we promoted development. I feel the new Crown is a car that will take your breath away in every single aspect including design, driving, and connected technology.”

Customers in Japan will be offered three powertrain options: a base rear-drive 2.0-liter turbo-four paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission with 241hp (245PS) and 258lb-ft (350Nm) of torque and two hybrid models.

The first one has the company’s 2.5-liter Dynamic Force petrol engine sitting at its heart, offering a combined 222hp (226PS), and offered in both rear- and all-wheel drive guises. The second one utilizes the 294hp 3.5-liter V6 petrol engine with a 177hp (180PS) electric motor for a combined 354hp (359PS). The range-topping V6 model is available only with rear-wheel drive.

If you want to extract maximum sportiness out of the new Toyota Crown, then the RS grades are the ones to go for; available with every powertrain, the RS grade of the Crown comes with goodies such as special front stablizers, different dampers, 18-inch alloy wheels and a rear spoiler. 2.0-liter turbo RS models also get rear floor bracing and performance rear dampers for better steering response and reduced vibrations.

The interior welcomes you with a clean-looking dashboard that features Toyota’s new dual display system which incorporates an eight-inch display positioned on top and a seven-inch display closer to the driver for easier access. All Crown models come with Drive Mode Select, with RS versions getting an extra Custom mode that allows drivers to opt for their preferred combination of settings.

The new Crown also gets the second-generation Toyota Safety Sense package as standard, which includes pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist that keeps the car centered in lane, Road Sign Assist and more.

Prices for the new Toyota Crown in Japan kick off at 4,606,200 yen ($41,200) for the base 2.0-liter turbo model. The company targets selling 4,500 units of the new Crown per month in Japan when it officially goes on sale this weekend.