The latest Toyota Crown (featured in the gallery and the video here) is getting ready to transition into its 16th generation. BestCarWeb claims that the iconic model with 70 years will history might take a break from the tradition and change drastically when it debuts in late 2022.
Specifically, the 16th-gen Toyota Crown is rumored to be a liftback with new exterior styling, new tech platform, and an all-wheel-drive hybrid system. Apparently, the company wants the new body style to remind of European premium cars of a similar market standing, such as the Audi A7 Sportback and the Mercedes-AMG GT. This includes slim headlights, a hexagonal radiator grille and virtually invisible c-pillars.
Reportedly, the car will become 4.9 meters (16.08 feet) long and slightly wider, too. It will be based on the TNGA-K platform of the Toyota Camry and Lexus ES, which implies front-wheel drive in the base spec (for the first time on record) and AWD in all other specs.
Some of the cars will be offered with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine and an AWD configuration similar to those of the RAV4 and the US-spec Camry. Others will utilize a hybrid system with the IC engine driving the front axle and an electric motor driving the rear axle. Power should lie within the range of 200-300 PS (197-296 hp; 150-224 kW). Six-cylinder engines will likely be dropped from the lineup permanently.