Toyota Crown SUV rendered

The world has been given its best look yet at the upcoming 2023 Toyota Crown courtesy of some new unofficial renders out of Russia, as rumours of an approaching global reveal of the Japanese giant’s new flagship SUV gain more traction.

Imagined here by Russian publication Kolesa.ru, the unofficial images are essentially coloured versions of the design trademark renders that surfaced online last month, but give us a better look at what will likely be a contrasting two-tone exterior finish.

The two-tone paint job was alluded to in the neutral grey and black trademark renders, but it was clear for all to see there was going to be darker sections than others – namely the bumpers, door trim, cladding and bonnet.

Kolesa has finished its render in a rather fetching metallic blue, which is contrast against the aforementioned and clearly visible black elements.

What the intended goal of these black highlights are remains to be seen, but the darkened side skirt and wheel-arch cladding is an obvious reminder and indication of the new Toyota Crown’s reborn identity as an SUV.

Reports out of Japan earlier this year speculated the new-generation Crown would be offered both as a traditional sedan and as high-riding SUV, but now it seems the two projects may have amalgamated into a single high-riding four-door crossover flagship.

We say this because we’re yet to see any design renders, trademarks or even documentation referring to the sedan, not to mention the overwhelming preference for wagon-shaped SUVs these days.

Fastback and coupe-styled SUVs are becoming increasingly popular, with more and more brands – including mainstream players like Haval and Peugeot – joining the fold and offering swoopy high-riders in the ilk of the original trend-setting BMW X6.

The new Toyota Crown, however, looks to be taking on a more conservative approach in an effort to morph its flagship sedan into something that can take advantage of the never-ending SUV craze, while still remaining reasonably loyal to its four-door roots.

To this end, the new Crown looks as if it will be more of a crossover than an all-out SUV – similar to the subtly-raised Polestar 2 fastback.

This crossover flavour will also ensure Toyota’s new global range-topper doesn’t step on any of Lexus’ toes given the premium brand’s high-riding car-based SUV flagship, the Lexus RX, is more of a traditional SUV.

As previously reported by carsales, the Toyota Crown is expected to launch with Toyota’s familiar 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid powertrain as well as the new turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder hybrid set-up seen in the new RX.

This new-generation powertrain is good for a combined 274kW/550Nm under the bonnet of the Lexus, but we’re sure different states of tune will be rolled out as it finds its way under the bonnet of more models.

Drive will be sent to either the front or all four wheels – most likely via the Toyota group’s eight-speed automatic transmission – depending on the variant, and the Japanese market is also tipped to receive a plug-in hybrid version.

A battery-electric version will reportedly follow sometime in the future.

Speaking of the future, the general consensus at the moment is that the new-generation Crown will debut later this year before launching globally in 2023, however, local release timing is yet to be confirmed.

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