2018 Toyota Crown – fully-redesigned S220 debuts

2018 Toyota Crown – fully-redesigned S220 debuts

Toyota’s longest-running nameplate now has a new face, with the debut of the 2018 Crown in its domestic market today. Previewed by the Crown Concept at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, the production version of the 15th-gen S220 arrives on the scene with an exterior essentially unchanged from the show car.

The replacement for the S210 – which has been around since 2012 – wears a far snazzier suit, with styling cues derived from the 2018 Camry. Completely redesigned, the new Crown looks tauter and sportier-looking than its predecessor, and a low-slung nose and fastback-styled roof-line aids the intended projection of pitching the new Crown as a (gentleman’s) sports sedan. The six-window side profile, meanwhile, looks to have been inspired by the new Lexus LS.

No shortage of options with this one, which is underpinned by the new Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform. A total of 21 variants are available for the Crown, along with three engine options and two drive configurations, in this case rear-wheel and four-wheel drive, as well as a choice of seven exterior colours.

In terms of powertrains, the base offering is a 8AR-FTS 2.0 litre turbocharged engine as seen on the 14th-gen facelift, now with a slight hike of 10 PS to 245 PS at 5,200 to 5,800 rpm on the new car, although torque remains at 350 Nm, available from 1,650 to 4,400 rpm. As before, it’s paired with an eight-speed automatic.

The other two are hybrid units. The first is a Toyota Hybrid System (THS II) offering based around a A25A-FXS 2.5 litre TNGA Dynamic Force Engine, which puts out 184 PS at 6,000 rpm and 221 Nm from 3,800 to 5,400 rpm. With juice provided by a nickel-metal hydride battery, the electric motor offers 143 PS (or 105 kW) and 300 Nm on its own, and together, the entire system delivers 226 PS of power.

The last powertrain is the 8GR-FXS, the Multi Stage Hybrid System as seen on the Lexus LS 500h and LC 500h, and the new Crown is the first Toyota brand model to utilise it. The system consists of a 3.5 litre Dual VVT-i direct-injected V6 – with 299 PS and 356 Nm – paired with twin electric motors and a 310 V lithium-ion battery, resulting in a total system output of 359 PS. The two motors work in conjunction with a four-speed auto to simulate the feel of a 10-speed gearbox.

In terms of grades, the new Crown ditches the previous naming convention, which offered the car in standard Crown Royal, sportier Crown Athlete and luxury-oriented Crown Majesta forms.

Now, the standard grade – which has 13 variants (four 2.0, seven 2.5 and two 3.5 litre) – naming starts with a Crown B, followed by Crown S, and then Crown G and Crown G-Executive (which replaces the Majesta), with a Four suffix on models equipped with four-wheel drive to denote the layout.

The RS (supposedly for Racing Spirit) range, meanwhile, takes over from the current Athlete, and features an Advance grade on four of the eight available variants (three 2.0, four 2.5 and a soliitary 3.5 litre). Four-wheel drive is also offered, but only for 2.5 litre versions.

The RS range features five-spoke 18-inch aluminum wheels and tyres as standard, but the specified route doesn’t just take a cosmetic approach. Items have been introduced to enhance driving performance, and the list includes special front stabilisers to increase roll rigidity, a linear-solenoid-type adaptive variable suspension system and a rear spoiler.

The 2.0 litre turbo Crown variant is also equipped with rear performance damper and rear floor brace to aid handling. The company says that much attention has been paid to driving dynamics, which are tailored from input gleaned from testing carried out at the Nürburgring.

Standard fit kit includes Drive Mode Select, which offers a range of drive modes with the press of a button – RS models feature an additional custom mode that allows drivers to configure a preferred combination of powertrain, chassis and air conditioning system settings.

The redesign has brought about a new cabin, which is adorned with premium material and trim. A total of seven interior colour combinations are available, four standard and three special options. Equipment includes a seven-inch display located on the main centre console, with a floating eight-inch screen perched above and behind it. The top surface of the instrument panel has been positioned lower to produce openness, capitalising on the placement of the double screens.

At the back, rear passenger leg space has been increased, with the newly-sculptured seats delivering optimum fit and reduced fatigue during long drives. On the G-Executive and G-Executive Four luxury models, the inclusion of high-end wooden panels and LED door lighting as well as a second-row air-conditioning system adds more plush and comfort.

It’s not just about luxe, because Toyota is pushing tech on the new Crown as well, and very intently at that – new to the car is a range of connected services, including the fitment of a Data Communication Module (DCM) system as standard. A host of services focused on safety, security, comfort and convenience, such as maintenance notifications based on real-time driving data, will be offered to owners.

2018 Toyota Crown – fully-redesigned S220 debuts

In terms of safety equipment, the new Crown is also loaded. A second-generation Toyota Safety Sense package is standard across the entire Crown range, and includes a pre-collision safety system able to detects pedestrians in both day and night conditions and bikes in the daytime. Also to be found are dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range, lane tracing assist (LTA), adaptive high beam and road sign assist.

In addition to intelligent clearance sonar and rear cross traffic auto brake, the new Crown is also the first Toyota equipped with rear pedestrian support brake, which detects pedestrians using a rear camera, and in the case of a possible collision, activates alerts and brake control to minimise the risk of an accident.

Toyota is targeting a monthly sales volume of 4,500 units for the new Crown, which is built at its Motomachi plant in Aichi prefecture.

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • Fuji boy on Jun 26, 2018 at 11:58 pm

    Toyota Crown, the only car that pummeled Mercedes E-Class to a pulp. and wont make it here

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 10
    • BacksideBrand on Jun 27, 2018 at 3:02 pm

      This Toyota front end is suitable as a hearse. Enough space to place a photo of the deceased. By the way they should come up with a station wagon. Toyota’s current hearse -Toyota Alphard is becoming too expensive that people are delaying their death.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 2
  • A weird front grafted onto Camry with the radio a poor combi of XC90 and Mazda MZD. Jepunis and their weird taste, I rather go for Century instead.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 14
  • Afeeq has an on Jun 27, 2018 at 1:41 am

    Looks absolutely stunning

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3
  • This essentially confirms the death of Lexus GS? Previous generations were rwd which shares basic architecture with the GS while this one is a rebodied Avalon and share its architecture with Lexus ES?

    Make sense business wise but such a shame that a nameplate with such history as Crown gone this route.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
    • The Crown is based on the TNGA (GA-L), a rear-wheel drive architecture which also underpins the latest Lexus LS and Lexus LC. The ES, Avalon and Camry uses the TNGA(GA-K) which is design mainly for use in the large FWD application.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
    • Calm down this one still RWD with AWD option, Toyota is aiming this car to be higher end and sportier than the Camry. If they made this new Crown fwd it would be really redundant because Toyota already have the Avalon for that.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • this is for japan domestic market only..GS is global

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Looks like the new Crown’s interior designers had been inspired by Volvo’s recent interior designs, especially the S90.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • John Fake News Sdn Bhd on Jun 27, 2018 at 9:18 am

    Toyota make the best cars in the world. The Crown and Century beat even the Mercedes S560L in overseas.

    Long live Toyota….oh wai!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 16
    • fugley on Jun 28, 2018 at 8:37 am

      It’s rather a unpropotionate car designed by accountants. In other words it is UGLY

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Very ugly

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 15
  • azrai on Jun 27, 2018 at 9:41 am

    V-motion nose on Toyota?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Leonardo on Jun 27, 2018 at 10:22 am

    Oh no! What happen to the front grille? Neither beautiful nor luxury look…or Toyota’s top management overruled the designers?
    I will still prefer other European options. Better overall exterior and interior styling, with a sense of exclusiveness.
    Cannot say the same thing for the Toyota Crown.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
  • Bernard on Jun 27, 2018 at 1:34 pm

    Camry’s big powerful brother.
    Nice car but would it cost RM1million if sold here as we have one of the highest car prices in the world?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • If you believed a fool, then yes.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 3
      • taknaktoyota on Jun 28, 2018 at 8:43 am

        Toyota wants to copy merc everything, sales number of passenger vehicles also like merc this month.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Ghoose!Why such an ugly design?Like a person’s jaw hangging down.The design is a big NO,NO,for me.The car doesn’t match the name “Crown”.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • ryanlee on Jun 28, 2018 at 7:46 am

    I’m sorry what happened to the chrome stick with steps gearshift. that design compliment perfectly with this new model interior luxury feel. why must you choose condom wrapped straight gearshift which look awfully cheap spoiling the luxury interior. hooimg it would lok sporty?yuke! toyota thumb down

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • ryanlee on Jun 28, 2018 at 7:51 am

    I’m sorry what happened to the chrome stick steps gearshift thing. that complement well with luxury interior decor. why must you choose condom wrapped straight gearshift. try to be sporty? it’s cheap looking

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Accord better than this

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 6
    • Toyota Fans on Jun 29, 2018 at 1:27 pm

      Lol go for accord then, why bother to look into this article.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Godfrey Japhet on Sep 04, 2018 at 2:08 pm

    This new crown looks amazing, bring it to africa.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
 

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