Christmas may be a time of rest for many, but not Toyota. The automaker, set to regain the top spot in 2012, took the festive occasion to introduce its all-new Crown luxury sedan for the Japanese domestic market.
The Crown name has been around since 1955, and moves into 2013 in its 14th-generation form. The S210 replaces the S200, which had a four-year run, and is available in both Crown Royal and Crown Athlete versions. The former is aimed at corporate users, while the Athlete targets individuals looking for some flair.
Ah yes, flair. The new Crown has been given an updated design – replete with larger front grille – and lower prices, things the company is hoping to attract younger buyers with; the current Crown user base has an average age hovering around the late-50s mark, and Toyota is hoping that the new car will appeal to those in their 40s.
Both the Royal and Athlete variants are available in rear-wheel 2WD and i-Four 4WD form, and the hybrid versions now incorporate a 2.5 litre engine instead of the 3.5 litre found previously. The 2.5 L 2AR-FSE is good for 178 PS at 6,000 rpm and 221 Nm at 4,200 to 4,800 rpm, and the paired electric motor has 143 PS and 300 Nm for numbers – combined system output is 220 PS.
The gasoline lumps are a V6 2.5L 4GR-FSE, with 203 PS at 6,400 rpm and 243 Nm at 4,800 rpm, available on both Royal and Athlete versions, and a V6 3.5L 2GR-FSE offering 315 PS at 6,400 rpm and 377 Nm at 4,800 rpm, which is only found on the Athlete.
Transmission-wise, the hybrid is equipped with an E-CVT unit, while the rest of the range features a six-speed Super ECT automatic, and in the case of the 3.5 litre-equipped Athlete, an eight-speed Super ECT box.
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Nice but big cc with miserable outputs for car this size..wow ecvt 6/8 speeds lol.
I rmbr the crown of old days- those days yes u can say it was good. Now 2012 and this is wat thwy offer? Only 6/10.
some of the outputs look similar to lexus engines.
anyway, the 3.5L v6 on the athlete makes it quite quick for a lumbering uncle car.
Way nicer to Sam Loo Camry
Once my used kimchi dealership has turnover of 30 cars per month, I will upgrade to the GS350.
So, Please buy more kimchis brand new. I may need to invest in another Hilux
If only I had the money…oh the athlete.
How old are you?
something very suzuki kizashi about its design,somehow :/
crown athlete lol… it cud only b japanese
shudve name it crown sport , or crown s
when will it hit our kg baru markets..?
Fugly
Toyota designers have done their best.
Mercedes’ prices are not far away, for potential buyers.
But they did so well with the Lexus GS and Toyota Avalon.
And most of all, in the US and Oz aftermarket, these models have great RV, unlike kimchis
mercadez S500 is more good la. why this car must got crown also dont know. toyota is suck
Never heard of the brand mercedes here..
aiyoyo … look at the front … fugly lar! why must have that darth vader design – double darth vader some more … aiyoyo!
Road tax for
2.0 litre : RM380 per year (wokey)
2.5 : RM800 per year (huh… whut? )…
3.5 : RM4380 per year …. hahahahaha
just to add for fun:
4.0l BMW 740i Series roadtax alone is RM14k++ w/o insurance. I saw one of the contractor’s car.
The front grille of the Athlete looks like Pikachu’s tail.
If someone would do something about that stupid front grill this would be an awesome car. but I supposed, being a JDM car, the Japanese are into this sort of design.
The interior is also quite contemporary Japanese. this is than, a very Japanese car.
The only JDM Toyota I like is the V12 powered Century, which is only available in Japan…..sigh.
woow..wow..predator grill on athlete…this to me claimed to be the best sports sedan in the world..dont believe?..you bet…you drive any of athlete series then you know what I m talking about..(crown athlete 3.5 with 2grfse engine codenamed dba-grs214)..
fugly2 pun, lagi cantik dari proton ;)
This car will make Merc S-class ride like a bicycle without suspension and in the rain.
cantik lar sangat…
meh…the previous generation looks a thousand times better…
i think this car will look damn good in our country… especially black colour Athlete model (imagine driving it slowly thru the city road at night)… definitely will attract lots of attention, bcoz it’s rare , huge and looks aporty yet elegant… damn.. i wan this…
ya..you can find them from the grey importer here the latest 2 models grs180 and grs200..they both outstanding and amazing cars…if I hv money this is the car I will definitely buying..wait next 2 years or so this newest model grs210 will come to our shores and this black athelete will smoke any of the conti cars out there..haha
Like the Athlete G , will order the 2.5 G spec , just wonder the 200bhp is not sufficient for the 1.8ton load
Fear front look , but camry tail lamp look
lets try next week