Toyota Crown Sedan launches in Japan with hydrogen powertrain
Words: Harrison Wade | Photos: Toyota
If you think back to mid-last year, you may recall seeing that Toyota announced four new models under the Crown nameplate. The first of these to be detailed were the Sport and Crossover, but now comes the turn of the true-to-form Sedan.
What we mean by “true-to-form” is that the Crown has always been a four-door saloon since it was birthed by Toyopet in 1955. However, even though the moniker is now branching off with new body styles, Toyota wanted to revisit its origins but with a slight twist.
Enter the “new formal”, or a retake on the traditional sedan as the Japanese carmaker calls it, with its hatchback-like design said to serve both personal and business applications.
While the Sedan’s exterior is somewhat distinct from the rest of the line-up, its interior is almost identical as it features a horizontally oriented 12.3-inch infotainment screen and gauge cluster, the same dashboard layout, and the same steering wheel as the other three
Customers have a choice of six exterior finishes to select from, including white, silver, black, metal, grey, and bronze, while the interior can be clad in black or brown upholstery.
Two different powertrains will be offered with the Crown Sedan, including a hydrogen fuel-cell (FCEV) and petrol-powered hybrid, both of which send power to the rear wheels.
With regard to the hydrogen-fuelled Crown, it makes use of the same system found in the Mirai, meaning it inherits three high-pressure hydrogen tanks and fuel cells. This enables the Sedan to travel up to 820km between refills and allows users to power homes and electrical appliances even when the car is turned off.
On the other hand, the hybrid makes use of a 2.5-litre engine combined with two electric motors and can be used to charge electric appliances via its two accessory outlets.
The Toyota Crown Sedan is only being offered to customers in Japan and is set to launch on November 13, 2023.
There’s a chance the model could make its way to New Zealand though, as the local arm of Toyota recently posted a photo to social media showing the Crown Crossover on our shores which is being offered as part of its used Signature Class range.
