Hailing from Japan and then becoming one of the global leaders in the auto industry, Toyota needs no introduction. With its focus on innovation and quality, Toyota has produced a diverse lineup of vehicles. One of its mass-produced vehicles is Toyota Crown. The Crown plays a major role to establish Toyota as a prominent player in the auto industry. Let’s take a look at Toyota Crown history and see how the iconic car has evolved over the years.
Toyota Cars in the UAE
Toyota keeps up its tradition of producing high-class vehicles by adhering firmly to technology and quality. In the non-luxury car segment, Toyota has emerged as the most popular brand, according to the UAE’s non-luxury annual car market report 2022.
Toyota Crown is one of the oldest models in the brand’s lineup. It is also one of the cars with the longest production runs of all time. Throughout the Toyota Crown journey, the car has established a dedicated following across the world.
Toyota Crown History
Launched in 1955, the Toyota Crown is a symbol of reliability and innovation. The history of Toyota Crown plays an integral part in the brand’s success. The model has evolved through multiple generations, each depicting a unique set of technological advancements. That said, if you are interested in adding a Crown to your car collection, browse these used Toyota Crown cars for sale in the UAE and find your ideal one.
Let’s go through the detailed history of Toyota Crown.
First Generation Toyota Crown: 1955 – 1962
In 1955, the first generation Toyota Crown rolled off the assembly line at the Koromo plant. This luxurious sedan featured a 1.5-litre R-series engine with a three-speed manual transmission. The engine could deliver an output of 48 horsepower.
The vehicle had front and rear bench seats that could accommodate six passengers. The Crown’s key characteristics of comfort and durability were well-balanced. Everyone embraced its arrival in the market with enthusiasm. Due to high acceptance, the Crown Deluxe model was added to the lineup in December 1955. Toyota Crown Deluxe featured luxuries including a heater and radio. Also, it could deliver 55 horsepower with an R-series engine.
Second Generation Toyota Crown: 1962 – 1967
The second-generation Toyota Crown came out in 1962 and featured flat-deck styling. The body variants included a 4-door sedan, a station wagon and commercial vehicles such as vans and pickup trucks. This model featured a 4-lamp headlight design.
The Deluxe grade sedan’s rear suspension utilised coil springs rather than leaf springs. In it, a more sturdy X-shaped structure replaced the traditional ladder frame. Moreover, it featured an in-line, 3R 4-cylinder engine with a three-speed manual transmission. The engine was capable of achieving a cruising speed of 140 km/h.
Third Generation Toyota Crown: 1967 – 1971
In the Toyota Crown history, the design of third-generation tackled the challenge of Japan’s rapidly expanding superhighway system. It offered increased power, comfort, and safety. Meanwhile, the aesthetic was the first to come from Toyota’s new Design Dome facility, with the theme ‘The Beauty of Japan’ as its inspiration.
A new perimeter-style structure replaced the previous generation model’s X-shape design to provide better collision prevention for car occupants. The new design was so successful that it lasted for more than two decades.
Most of the Crown variants including Estate, Saloon, and Deluxe featured a 2.0-litre M-series engine. The engine came with a choice of four power outputs including a horsepower of 100, 105, 110 and 125.
Fourth Generation Toyota Crown: 1971 – 1974
The old models of the Toyota Crown were marketed under the ‘Toyopet’ title in Toyota Crown history. However, the fourth generation was the first to be publicly known as the Toyota Crown. There were three body styles available; a four-door saloon, a two-door coupe (also known as ‘hardtop’) and a five-door estate.
Toyota launched automatic transmission in Crown’s fifth generation for smoother, more efficient driving. It also included anti-skid braking control for added safety.
All versions were initially available with a choice of a 2.0-litre engine (5R four-cylinder or M-series six-cylinder). However, in May 1971, a larger 2.6-litre 4M engine was introduced to Saloon and Coupe models to broaden consumer choice.
Fifth Generation Toyota Crown: 1974 – 1979
The fifth generation Toyota Crown was released on the 20th anniversary of the model. Other variations were released a month after that, including a two-door and four-door hardtop as well as an Estate model. Till now, a total of 63 Crown models had been released in the auto market.
Among the Toyota Crown generations, the fifth-gen model changed its appearance from the older models and featured linear styling with a more conventional look. It increased customer demand. Also, Toyota Crown now featured more passenger space and a new floor pan.
Toyota Crown now offered a wide range of six-cylinder engines with an option of 2.0-litre or 2.6-litre displacements. It could pair up with five different transmission types. Moreover, brake performance was enhanced while noise and vibration were further reduced. Also, Toyota Crown featured an electronic fuel injection system to increase engine efficiency and fuel economy.
Sixth Generation Toyota Crown: 1979 – 1983
After a gap of five years, the sixth generation Toyota Crown was released in the market. The car was more lightweight than the previous generations, with sleeker lines. It featured a powerful and fuel-efficient 2.8-litre 5M straight-six engine.
Model derivations now totalled 70, with petrol and diesel engines and a choice of five body styles: four-door saloon, two- and four-door hardtops, estate and van. The four-door hardtop was famous for having centre pillars that were nearly invisible when the side windows were rolled up. It was a design that was so well accepted that it remained a standard Crown feature for the rest of the 1980s.
Seventh Generation Toyota Crown: 1983 – 1987
In the Toyota Crown history, the seventh-generation, marketed as ‘the most luxurious and prestigious saloon car in the world’ was introduced in August 1983. The redesigned Crown sedan was distinguished by resin-coated, shiny rear pillars known as ‘crystal pillars’. Toyota Crown was available in hardtop sedan, sedan and wagon variants.
The new Toyota Crown offered a fuel-injected, 2.8-litre inline 6-cylinder 5M engine. It was later replaced with a 3.0-litre unit in 1984. This model also featured a four-wheel independent suspension, automatic transmission and anti-lock braking system.
Eighth Generation Toyota Crown: 1987 – 1991
The eighth-generation Toyota Crown debuted in 1987. It offered the same four body styles as the old models of Toyota Crown including a 4-door hardtop, 4-door sedan, station wagon and van. There were seven engine options available, including a base 3.0-litre inline 6-cylinder engine.
The Crown’s conventional perimeter full frame and double-wishbone front suspension were carried over to the chassis. The 3.0-litre version included electrically controlled air suspension. Beginning with this model generation, the traction control system and other electrical devices were routinely used.
Ninth Generation Toyota Crown: 1991 – 1995
Toyota Crown over the years had its sedan variant replaced with the hardtop variant as the flagship vehicle. Therefore, only the hardtop was revised in October 1991. The eighth-generation sedan, which was introduced in September 1987, was not revised until December 1995.
The sedan was available in two body sizes, one in the ‘5 number’ category and one in the bigger ‘3 number’ category. Both models had a more spacious rear compartment and enhanced ride comfort.
Three VVT-i inline 6-cylinder engines (3.0-litre, 2.5-litre and 2.0-litre) and a 4-cylinder, turbo engine powered the lineup. The original drivetrain design was front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, with an option for 4-wheel-drive as well.
Tenth Generation Toyota Crown: 1995 – 1999
The Toyota Crown sedan received a complete makeover in 1995. In this new generation of Toyota Crown, the latest technology was introduced along with changes to the body styling. The body now featured a monocoque design with front and rear double wishbone suspensions.
The body was also available in two sizes compact 5-number category and a larger 3-number category same as the previous generation.
The engine featured a VVT-i, inline 6-cylinder engine along with a rear-wheel-drive configuration.
Eleventh Generation Toyota Crown: 1999 – 2003
The eleventh-generation Toyota Crown Sedan was distinct from other models like the Royal Saloon and the Athlete.
A ‘3 number’ category with an expanded body was offered in addition to the small ‘5 number’ category. All engines, including a 6-cylinder engine, had a displacement of 2.0 litres.
Twelfth Generation Toyota Crown: 2003 – 2008
In the twelfth generation Toyota Crown, the left-hand drive became available for the first time in 2001. The engine was modified to a V6 for the new Royal and Athlete models, while the Crown Majesta retained the V8, now in a 4.3-litre version with 4WD as an option. The new engines provided increased performance while simultaneously improving fuel economy.
The Radar Pre-Collision System now includes a single digital camera to improve the accuracy of collision forecasting as well as warning and control levels.
Thirteenth Generation Toyota Crown: 2008 – 2012
The Crown is offered in four trim levels in the thirteenth generation. The larger 4.6-litre, V8 engine is incorporated in this new generation. It is one of the first cars to include a Navigation/AI-Adaptive Variable Suspension System. It is also the first to have active noise cancellation.
The Crown Athlete has been tested to speed up from 0 to 100 km/h in under 6 seconds only. Whereas, the Crown Hybrid is projected to take 5.4 seconds all thanks to the hybrid motor’s increased power.
Fourteenth Generation Toyota Crown: 2012 – 2018
In 2012, the fourteenth generation Crown was released with a fresh style. The Royal series front styling theme was derived from the fifth generation Crown. The Toyota Multi-Operation Touch panel controls the majority of the vehicle’s functions. The Crown presently employs a 2.0-litre turbocharged, four-cylinder engine mated to an 8-speed automated transmission.
Fifteenth Generation Toyota Crown: 2018 – 2022
The fifteenth-generation Toyota Crown debuted as a concept in October 2017 at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show and went live in 2018. This new generation Crown, like the majority of Toyota models for 2018, comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which is a suite of safety features. Adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection and other safety features are part of Toyota Safety Sense.
Moreover, the Crown is one of the first Toyota cars to use a DCM (Data Communication Module) technology that connects to a Vehicle Control Network.
Sixteenth Generation Toyota Crown: 2022 – Present
In 2022, the Crown’s sixteenth generation was revealed. Four body styles were introduced as a ‘reboot’ to the Crown nameplate: Crossover, Sport, Sedan, and Estate.
This generation is equipped with a 2.5-litre, A25A-FXS engine delivering 231 horsepower of system output. It is paired with an ‘E-Four’ four-wheel drive system and eCVT which are the two hybrid powertrain options.
All-New Toyota Crown 2023
The all-new Toyota Crown 2023 has been released as a hybrid sedan. It is available in two trims; the Platinum variant and the XLE variant.
The technology in the new Crown combines a front electric motor with Toyota’s first-ever 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder turbo engine. It is controlled by a six-speed automatic transmission with direct shift. The system generates 345 horsepower and 550 Nm of engine torque, with a top speed of 200 kilometres per hour. Furthermore, it has a fuel efficiency of 18 kilometres per litre.
That is all about Toyota Crown’s history, its generations and features. All these Toyota Crown models listed by years show how the car has evolved with advancing technology. The vehicle holds the privilege of being one of the world’s longest production-run cars.
That said, if you are a fan of Toyota models, check out these used Toyota cars for sale in the UAE and have your ideal pick.
Stay connected with the dubizzle auto blog for more information on car histories and features.
Related Posts
