The Toyota Crown Sedan is coming this fall and the company has quietly released more details about the upcoming model.
Not to be confused with the Crown Crossover, which is essentially a lifted sedan, the Crown Sedan features a “hammerhead” front end that follows in the footsteps of the bZ4X. However, unlike the EV, the model has a large trapezoidal grille with vertical accents.
A long hood gives way to a rakish windscreen, which flows into a sloping roof. We can also see streamlined bodywork and 19- or 20-inch wheels. The rear end is relatively plain, but the model has a slender light bar to emphasize the car’s width.
More: 2024 Toyota Crown Sedan FCEV Makes Its Public Debut In Japan
Pictures: Kunihisa Kobayashi for Toyota
Speaking of which, the Crown Sedan measures 198 inches (5,030 mm) long, 74.4 inches (1,890 mm) wide, and 57.9 inches (1,470 mm) tall with a wheelbase that spans 118.1 inches (3,000 mm). That means the model is 2.2 inches (56 mm) longer than the Mirai and has an extra 3.2 inches (81 mm) between the wheels. The latter is certainly welcome as the dedicated FCEV has a cramped rear seat.
The latest pictures give us a better look inside and we can see a familiar cabin that closely echoes the one in the Crown Sport and Crown Crossover. That being said, the Crown Sedan has a lightly revised center console with covered cup holders. We can also see an abundance of wood trim, which adds some much needed visual interest.
Toyota didn’t go into many specifics, but we can expect a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a matching 12.3-inch infotainment system. The company also revealed, “In order to realistically express the three-dimensional effect of laminated wood, more than 200 prototypes were created.”
The automaker has previously confirmed the rear-wheel drive sedan will be offered with hybrid and fuel cell powertrains. The latter will likely be shared with the Mirai, which has three hydrogen storage tanks, a fuel cell, a 1.24 kWh lithium-ion battery, and a rear-mounted electric motor developing 182 hp (134 kW / 185 PS) and 221 lb-ft (300 Nm) of torque.
The hybrid variant remains more mysterious, but the Crown Sport has a hybridized 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, two electric motors, and a nickel metal hydride battery. This setup gives the crossover a combined output of 231 hp (172 kW / 234 PS). That being said, the crossover is all-wheel drive and not rear-wheel drive.
GR Crown Crossover Rumored
In other Crown news, Japan’s BestCarWeb suggests a GR Crown Crossover could arrive in the summer of 2024. We’ll believe it when we see it, but the publication says the model will have an upgraded version of the optional Hybrid Max powertrain.
The powertrain currently produces a combined output of 344 hp (257 kW / 349 PS) in Japan, but the publication says the GR variant will increase that figure to around 375 hp (279 kW / 380 PS). The ‘rumor rag’ also says it will be able to “achieve quite sporty handling,” which implies it could have a sport-tuned suspension.