Toyota Crown set for SA debut in 2023
It was back in 1955 when Toyota initially debuted the Crown nameplate as its first mass-production passenger vehicle created with Toyota's own domestic technology.
While the Crown car nameplate may sound foreign to the local automotive stable, it's one with the Toyota brand. As it stands right now, the brand is shifting focus from just being a single upmarket sedan carmaker to catering for a broader range of patrons across the world.
Crown joins the fold in four car options; Crossover Type, Sport Type, Sedan Type and Estate Type. According to Toyota, the Crown will be sold in 40 markets worldwide, with SA receiving the crossover in 2023.
As it stands, Toyota has only released some details about the SA-bound crossover model, which will blend the sedan and SUV design cues into a sleek coupe-like design.
On the outside, the Crown Crossover features an entirely new form of a flagship vehicle for a new era, thanks to headlights and taillights connected from left to right in a single straight line and large-diameter tyres. Regarding colour options, a total of 12 body shades as well as four interior colour combinations will be available.
The powertrain consists of two four-cylinder, petrol-hybrid engine options; a 2.4-litre turbocharged engine, and a 2.5-litre turbocharged unit. Both systems feature a newly-developed, bipolar nickel-hydrogen battery pack for enhanced fuel economy and quietness.
The entire range is underpinned by the latest-generation Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, consisting of McPherson struts in the front and a multi-link suspension in the rear.
Regarding safety, the Crown range features Toyota Safety Sense 2 as standard. The new Crown Crossover Type is equipped with Toyota Teammate, a suite of driver-assistance technologies.
The all-new Toyota Crown Crossover Type will launch in SA in the first quarter of 2023.