Toyota has expanded the current Crown lineup with a new vehicle named Sport PHEV, an SUV-like hatchback capable of covering up to 1,200 km (745 miles) thanks to a superior powertrain.
The car looks different from the normal Crown inside and out, features a more rigid body and goes on sale in Japan with an extra electric motor on the rear axle. It starts from 7.65 million Yen, or $53,800 – nearly 2 million Yen above the standard Crown Hybrid.
Like its normal-range counterpart revealed in October, the newcomer utilizes a 2.5-liter petrol engine. However, the output has been raised to 306 PS (302 hp / 225 kW). The lithium-ion battery pack has also been enlarged to let owners cover up to 90 km (56 miles) on electricity alone. Charging the battery to 80 percent takes 38 minutes.
Added undercarriage braces make the body of the Crown Sport PHEV more rigid than that of the standard car. The stock adaptive suspension benefits from a fine tune, and new 21-inch black wheels come bundled with six-piston brake calipers. Inside, the paddle shifters, the sport seats and the red/black trim are all new.