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The YouTube channel Automotive Press, run by David Koichi Chao, follows automaker goings-on in Japan. Through CarBuzz, we hear that Chao obtained maintain of the most recent challenge of Japan’s Greatest Automobile journal, and it comprises some intriguing information in regards to the new Toyota Crown. Greatest Automobile believes Toyota is planning to launch a coupe model of the Crown in 2025 or 2026, and probably a convertible Crown a yr or two after that. The magazine says Toyota desires to vogue Crown right into a sub-brand that pushes Toyota above the place the Avalon as soon as sat however, clearly, not as excessive as Lexus. A possible Crown coupe can be a flagship for the Toyota vary the identical method the LC serves as a flagship for Lexus.
That is information we could not start to foretell the veracity of. If there’s any phase having hassle supporting its personal weight, it is the massive coupe phase for something beneath Bentley and Aston Martin. That is a disgrace, as a result of there are some magnificent two-door heavy hitters on the market that we lately beseeched rich people to buy more of. The BMW 8 Sequence nonetheless appears misplaced within the woods, the Audi R8 (emphasis extra on “flagship” than “large” coupe) is on end-of-life care. The Lexus LC bought 2,782 models within the U.S. final yr, the numbers this yr already method down on that paltry sum. The S-Class coupe is useless, the Mercedes SL emerged from the woods a special automobile — as a convertible model of the AMG GT, which, by the way in which, bought 3,110 models of all three physique types final yr within the U.S. (four-door, two-door, and convertible).
As for taking Toyota upscale, the LC begins at about $95,000, leaving ample room beneath for a Crown coupe within the $50,000 vary, hypothetically. The powerful bit is that the Lexus RC begins at about $45,000. A Crown coupe could possibly be seen to have a special mission than the RC and courtroom a special buyer base, however how do you value the Crown with out complicated the value/energy/luxurious equation between it and the RC?
Based on Automotive Press, Greatest Automobile makes it seem to be Toyota’s and Lexus’ lineups are going to diverge due to totally different powertrain paths — Lexus going electrical within the mid-term, Toyota refraining from going all-EV for some time. The illustrations in Greatest Automobile make the Crown coupe and convertible appear to be much less voluptuous variations of the LC; as if, for instance, Lexus killed the LC and the automobile obtained redrawn and rebranded as a Crown coupe and roadster.
However once more, we’re placing this right here for future reference. We might actually be pleased to see the Crown get one other physique type that additionally put a enjoyable coupe available on the market.
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