Toyota is set to unveil limited-production special editions with cool and attractive features. The first one is the Crown Crossover Limited Matte Metal, coming with a new kind of paint that is easier to live with compared to your typical matte wraps and finishes. The “Limited Matte Metal” edition is based on the high-spec Toyota Crown Crossover RS Advanced, adding a few unique touches in terms of the exterior and interior design. The highlight, of course, is the Matte Metal finish which is said to overcome the shortcomings usually associated with matte paints. This happens thanks to a new surface treatment called “TM Coat” – an extra thin coating that protects the matte paint and makes it stain-resistant.
While the special paint will need to be
recoated around once per year, it is still a lot more durable than most matte
finishes that require owners to wash by hand and make sure stains are removed
immediately. This means you can even thank your Crown Limited Matte Metal to
the car wash without worrying about the outcome. More importantly, it makes the
Crown Crossover look better than ever, in combination with the matte metal
cladding and the matte black 21-inch alloy wheels.
Miyuki Takeya who works at Toyota’s
materials technology department, admitted that the extra coating for the Matte
Metal paint was not well received by factory workers at first, due to the fact
it requires one extra hour of work compared to the standard options in the
Crown’s color palette. However, as reported by Car Watch Impress, the cool
looks of the prototype convinced everyone to go the extra mile.
Inside, Toyota designers opted for a
“Black Lumish” theme, featuring black leather, red stitching, black accents,
and “warm steel” inserts on the dashboard. Furthermore, a soft-padded material
has been applied on the center console, door cards, and dashboard for a more
premium feel, alongside the discreet “Matte Metal” lettering. Owners will also
have access to a silver key, and a stylish case for the manual made of recycled
leather.
The special edition is fitted with the
more potent version of the hybrid powertrain producing a combined 345 hp and 542 Nm of torque from a turbocharged 2.4-liter
engine and dual electric motors. Power is transmitted to all four wheels via a
six-speed automatic gearbox and the electronic “E-Four Advanced” system. The
Crown Crossover Limited Matte Metal is exclusively available via Toyota’s new
Crown-dedicated flagship dealerships in Japan, starting at ¥ 7,500,000
(US$ 51,410). This represents a significant premium over the Crown Crossover RS
Advanced which is priced from ¥ 6,400,000 (US$ 43,945). The company didn’t announce
the number of units they will produce, but according to the description, it
will be “limited”.