Toyota Teases Yet Another Crossover

by Matthew Guy

Published: October 24th, 2023

It seems Toyota is bent on covering every single niche in the crossover segment, currently slinging vehicles ranging from the pert Corolla Cross to the jumbo Grand Highlander. Now, another bundle of joy is on the way – but they’re not telling us its name.

As with most teasers, we are deemed worthy of but the slightest glimpse of taillight and a couple of badges. This is akin to other, more human levels of infuriating tease but VS lawyers are not permitting us to elaborate on such activity here. The shot does provide us with a clue about this rig’s name thanks to the plastichrome letter ‘C’ stuck above the license plate cutout. Given the general size and shape of that area and the badge’s positioning, it is reasonable to say the model name has five letters; Camry or Crown, perhaps? It’d be funky – though highly unlikely – if they resurrected the Cresta or Carina names from other markets, but if they apply the Celica name to an SUV there will be riots. Just sayin’.

The Crown is an intriguing thought, one with which several other outlets are running. Some sort of Crown Cross or Crown SUV would certainly thrust that nameplate in front of a whole array of new customers, folks who would likely never consider the new Crown sedan as their next vehicle. To be sure, the company did heave out a PR photo last year showing four vehicles that could possibly bear the Crown name; amongst them was a large SUV. This may very well be that machine – and it could be the same one whose Prius-like headlamps were teased last week.

Officially, the bumf for this photo promises the vehicle will have all-wheel drive and describes the thing as a “hybrid electric mid-size SUV”. Top-spec Crown models in this country are powered by an electrified setup that mates a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-banger engine with a rear-axle electric motor to produce a combined 340 horsepower. Other tunes belt out just 236 horses and use a CVT instead of a conventional automatic. Given the Crown’s elevated ride height, it’s not out of the question for Toyota to drape some sort of slinky crossover-ish body atop that car’s bones and squeeze more profit from the platform. And if we were rude, we'd totally point out the lack of alignment between the hatch and body on this pre-production vehicle being teased today.

Whatever it is, we shouldn’t have long to wait. Toyota will probably have a couple of reveals at the Tokyo Motor Show which kicks off in just a couple of days.

[Images: Toyota]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.

#Toyota #SUV #Crossover #AllWheelDrive

Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

More by Matthew Guy

Comments

Join the conversation

3 of 29 comments

Kwik_Shift_Pro4X on Oct 25, 2023

I only look forward to the Toyota Stout, if it ever gets a release.

Like Reply
- Analoggrotto on Oct 27, 2023
  
  Next Generation Telluride will spawn an ATP variant with an pickup bed.
  
  Like
Ajla on Oct 25, 2023

Not sure how it will translate to a CUV but I'm a fan of the Crown lifted sedan. The biggest downsides are the weird exterior and Toyota branding.

Like Reply

Recent Comments

MRF 95 T-Bird Whenever I travel and I’m in my rental car I first peruse the FM radio to look for interesting programming. It used to be before the past few decades of media consolidation that if you traveled to an area the local radio stations had a distinct sound and flavor. Now it’s the homogenized stuff from the corporate behemoths. Classic rock, modern “bro dude” country, pop hits of today, oldies etc. Much of it tolerable but pedestrian. The college radio stations and NPR affiliates are comfortable standbys. But what struck me recently is how much more religious programming there was on the FM stations, stuff that used to be relegated to the AM band. You have the fire and brimstone preachers, obviously with a far right political bend. Others geared towards the Latin community. Then there is the happy talk “family radio” “Jesus loves you” as well as the ones featuring the insipid contemporary Christian music. Artists such as Michael W. Smith who is one of the most influential artists in the genre. I find myself yelling at the dashboard “Where’s the freakin Staple singers? The Edwin Hawkins singers? Gospel Aretha? Gospel Elvis? Early Sam Cooke? Jesus era Dylan?” When I’m in my own vehicle I stick with the local college radio station that plays a diverse mix of music from Americana to rock and folk. I’ll also listen to Sirius/XM: Deep tracks, Little Steven’s underground as well as Willie’s Roadhouse and Outlaw country.
The Comedian I owned an assembled-in-Brazil ‘03 Golf GTI from new until ‘09 (traded in on a C30 R-Design).First few years were relatively trouble free, but the last few years are what drove me to buy a scan tool (back when they were expensive) and carry tools and spare parts at all times.Constant electrical problems (sensors & coil packs), ugly shedding “soft” plastic trim, glovebox door fell off, fuel filters oddly lasted only about a year at a time, one-then-the-other window detached from the lift mechanism and crashed inside the door, and the final reason I traded it was the transmission went south.20 years on? This thing should only be owned by someone with good shoes, lots of tools, a lift and a masochistic streak.
Terry I like the bigger size and hefty weight of the CX90 and I almost never use even the backseat. The average family is less than 4 people.The vehicle crash safety couldn't be better. The only complaints are the clumsy clutch transmission and the turbocharger.
MaintenanceCosts Plug in iPhone with 200 GB of music, choose the desired genre playlist, and hit shuffle.
MaintenanceCosts Golf with a good body and a dying engine. Somewhere out there there is a dubber who desperately wants to swap a junkyard VR6 into this and STANCE BRO it.