Toyota may not have any convertible models in its global lineup at the moment, but this didn’t stop them from revealing two open-air vehicles within a couple of weeks.
After the Toyota Century SUV Convertible that was created as a parade vehicle for Sumo wrestling champions, the automaker revealed another one-off convertible in Japan, this time based on the Crown Crossover.
The Crown Convertible made its first appearance in an official video by Toyota Times. The lower part of the bodywork is carried over from the original Crown Crossover, but the roof and pillars have been chopped off. The resulting convertible retains four doors, akin to the donor car, but with frameless doors in this configuration. The rear deck has undergone a redesign, featuring a custom black trim piece to compensate for the absence of the rear glass.
Toyota Times / YouTube
The five-seater interior with light-colored upholstery remains consistent with the donor car. However, in the convertible version, passengers enjoy unrestricted headroom. Given its one-off nature, this convertible does not feature a retractable roof, preserving the cargo area and keeping the cabin permanently open to the elements.
There is no information available regarding any mechanical modifications, leading us to assume that the model is powered by the standard self-charging hybrid setup. This includes a turbocharged 2.4-liter gasoline engine and dual electric motors, providing a combined output of up to 344 hp (257 kW / 349 PS) in the Crown Crossover RS trim.
More: New Toyota GR Crown Rumored To Debut This Summer With Over 370HP
The conversion was undertaken in-house by Toyota engineers, which explains the high level of quality and attention to detail. Toyota Vice President, Hiroki Nakajima, admitted that convertible cars are “extremely difficult” to make, but their style and open-air feeling make them popular among people from the US and other countries.
Toyota’s head of design, Simon Humphreys, said that it is important for convertibles to look “sophisticated and beautiful”, adding that occupants are also a part of their design.
For a more in-depth look at this special model, you can watch the video below, although you’ll have to speak Japanese in order to fully understand it. Originally, the Crown Convertible was believed to be designed as a parade car for Sumo wrestling champions, but the committee opted for a Century-based conversion instead. Regardless, this remains a unique one-off build with no plans for future production.
However, enthusiasts of the Crown Crossover will be pleased to hear that Toyota is in the process of developing an off-road-themed special edition, and there are rumors of a performance-focused GR trim expected to debut in mid-2024.
H/T to Kuruma News