In a rapidly changing automotive landscape, the Toyota Crown nameplate has survived since 1955. In the Philippines, it's perhaps best known as the personal car of President Cory Aquino--the one she rode away in following Fidel Ramos's inauguration in 1992.
Now, Toyota has just revealed the 15th (yes, 1-5) generation of the Crown. The Japanese carmaker calls it a "first-generation connected car for a life of new mobility," and features a Data Communication Module (DCM) as standard. It features a slew of connectivity features (duh), including the e-Care Health Check Report, which allows you to check engine oil and battery stats via a smartphone when the warning lights come on.
The design is modern, too, featuring a low-slung nose up front. Inside, you get both an 8- and 7-inch display. Powertrain options include 2.5-liter (181hp, 221Nm) and 3.5-liter V6 (295hp, 356Nm) hybrids, plus a 2.0-liter turbo with 242hp and 350Nm.
"In inheriting the passion from the early days of the company when the first generation Crown was born, I wanted the world to see the 'Japanese brains and brawn' that went into developing this car," said Akira Akiyama, the chief engineer in charge of development. "It was with this spirit that we promoted development. I feel the new Crown is a car that will take your breath away in every single aspect including design, driving, and connected technology."
The all-new Crown will hit Japanese dealerships within the year. Do you want to see this on Philippine roads?