Toyota’s next crossover could be the Crown Cross

The Toyota Crown has been sold in Japan since 1955. It now exists as a line of executive sedans available exclusively for the Japanese market. While the Crown was once sold in the Philippines, we have not seen the nameplate here for over two decades. Could that be changing soon?

Some may know that Toyota is working on a new version of the Crown, possibly called the Crown Cross, transitioning the model from a sedan to a crossover form factor. The Japanese automaker recently trademarked the Crown name and badge in Australia, and now leaked images of the new model have surfaced online.

Why the change? It’s no secret that Toyota has been riding the crossover wave with models like the Corolla Cross. Daihatsu-derived vehicles like the Raize also look to be a key part of the brand’s strategy for now. With the new Crown, Toyota would be targeting a distinct demographic, as the model appears to be a liftback, coupe-style crossover. 

Some sources have speculated that Toyota is targeting the likes of the BMW X6. The upcoming Crown crossover is apparently very similar in size to the X6, making it an attractive alternative for Toyota fans.

The Toyota Crown reportedly rides on the Toyota New Global Architecture platform, specifically the TNGA-K version. That same architecture currently underpins the Camry, RAV4, and the Lexus ES, NX, and RX. 

Further fueling the rumors are talks of powertrain options, of which there appear to be two, at least initially. There could be a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid with a CVT as well as a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic gearbox. A plug-in hybrid version could also be in the cards. The new Toyota Crown Cross could become available in all-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive configurations. 

The Toyota Crown Cross could debut in mid-July of this year. There’s still no word on which markets Toyota plans on taking the crossover, although US and Australian releases have been speculated. A local launch could prove to be another win for the brand, provided of course Toyota Motor Philippines decides to bring the model to our shores.