In a world full of SUVs, here’s another one from Toyota.
bZ4X, Corolla Cross, RAV4, Venza, Highlander, Grand Highlander, 4 Runner, Sequoia…you’d think Toyota already has a jam-packed roster of SUVs on the market, but the automaker is gunning to introduce another one to the North American market. This time, we’re looking at an “all-wheel drive hybrid electric mid-size SUV” that will soon debut for the U.S. market. But what exactly could it be?
Well, Toyota cropped the teaser image so that we can just see the badge on the tailgate. More specifically, there’s a “C”, which suggests this is the next variant of the controversially-styled Crown. The automaker debuted a Crown Estate wagon concept last year. Odds are, we’re looking at the production-spec version of that concept here.
If you aren’t a huge fan of the sedan, then, perhaps this SUV-ish take on the Crown nameplate will be more to your liking. Since we’re getting a teaser right at the tail end of October, it’s likely we’ll actually see it in the sheet metal at next month’s LA Auto Show.
We don’t have to wonder about its powertrain, though, since that rear badge is clearly visible in the teaser. The high-riding Crown sedan comes with two powertrain options. The standard model brings a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder and an electric motor, similar to Toyota’s other hybrid crossovers, bringing 236 horsepower to the table. The more potent “Hybrid Max” option, on the other hand, brings a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine into the mix, raising the total output to 340 horsepower.
Stay tuned in a couple weeks for more info from the LA Auto Show, which opens up to the public between November 17 and November 26, 2023.
