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I was hoping that ther GA-N RWD architecture would be the basis of something in the Lexus Crossover stable, but it seems that ship has sailed with this news.
i hope they have some backup plans for sedans, just in case the suv craze dies out
don't wanna be caught with their pants down.
Then they'll just rely on the ES like usual while slowly phasing out the IS and LS like they're doing now.
We can't blame the decline of sedans when the ES is selling exceptionally well whereas the IS/GS/LS are at the bottom of their respective sales segments.
When the pendulum swings too far to the right, it will swing back.
look at the iPhone 12 mini. It’s a best seller as more and more realise they don’t need to be holding oversized phones anymore.
The more I observe, the more I determine that people have no idea whatsoever what they need. Since you bring up smartphones, I support a mid-size userbase (just over 300) where users absolutely require an enrolled smartphone to start their day. Given the population size, if everyone replaced their phone every 2 years, we should expect to help at most two people per week set up a new device, because at least some subset is competent to do it themselves. My logic says that this number should be depressed this year, since nobody can go anywhere. But for the last 6 months, we are averaging 7-10 users per week who need help with their new phones. This implies a 10-month refresh cycle across the board, which seems insane to me.
So the auto industry geniuses have decided No more coupes, convertibles, sport cars - but a zillion crossovers.
They make more money on crossovers per unit than on those other type of vehicles you mention...and even more per unit on full-sized RWD trucks/SUVs. One of the reasons (although it is not the only one) that the public is buying crossovers today is that, with some manufacturers, sedans/coupes/convertibles simply are no longer available. You cannot buy what is not produced.
Having said that, though (and, to be fair), I can understand the appeal small crossovers have with a lot of people...their economy and versatility fills a lot of needs, at a generally low price.
When the pendulum swings too far to the right, it will swing back.
look at the iPhone 12 mini. It’s a best seller as more and more realise they don’t need to be holding oversized phones anymore.
A little off topic, I don't know if you can attribute all of the 12 Mini's sales success to the size factor. It's also the lowest price entry into the iPhone 12, which is generally the largest factor into purchases. And not controlling for overall supply. I can already pick up a 12 Mini today, while most Pro models are still a month or so out. As usual for Apple, lots of demand for the top spec early.
As for rise of the crossover. I don't expect to see that go away any time soon. Automakers have mitigated a lot of the prior fuel economy penalties by ditching body on frame, ditching low range gearboxes, etc, as they realize next to no one maximizes those. Those changes have also improved ride and handling so as not to be so clumsy vs low riding sedans.
Customers have also decided that they largely enjoy an elevated seating position and view of the road, and are very unlikely to give that up.
So I would not expect a "big shift" or swing back where we see traditional sedans etc ever regain >50% share of the market. Automakers are instead forced to look at what can they do with electric platforms that provides a new experience or functional utilization of space. Like giant frunks or see Canoo
I agree with others, would like to have seen Toyota utilize a new premium RWD platform for a crossover to provide a drive more akin to the X5/GLE/Aviator/GV80 etc. but also know that was a bit of a pipe dream. Look how long Toyota dug in their heels against a 3-row RX.
Apart from what pbm317 has said above regarding crossovers, another possibility is that BEV infrastructure is incredibly expensive like EZZ says.
Hence Ford was amongst the first to axe all their sedans to cut costs.
Now, Toyota is eyeing electrification, and Toyota Motor Corp wants to really cut costs too by axing sedans.
Hence the low volume JDM Toyota Crown is being axed.
Next, the 6LS could be axed too - unless Toyota Motor Corp wants a halo vehicle for marketing.
However, my bet is that sedans will make a come back, even if they don't sell as well as high riding vehicles.
By 2022, the current GA-L based JDM Toyota Crown sedan [and perhaps the 5GS?] will be replaced by the forthcoming Mazda 6 3.0 in-line six with RWD, continuing with the original rumors.
On November 11, 2020, the Chunichi Shimbun reported that the Crown sedan will be finished production at its current model and will be launched as an SUV in 2022.
It wasn't officially announced by Toyota, so I don't know if it's true or not, but it was still shocking news.
Crown is One of Japan's leading luxury sedans, with a tradition of about 65 years and 15 years since Toyota was first born in 1955.
Based on sedans as the core models of cars, wagons, coupes, SUVs, and in recent years, it has been derived into four-door coupes, but if this is the case, is it the trend of the times to get away with the basic sedan and the crown will be only an SUV?
Therefore, distribution journalist Toru Endo thoroughly investigated w w wying the next crown will be an SUV without a sedan. Get to the bottom of the next Crown SUV theory!
Text /
Toru Endo Photo / Best Car Web Editorial Department Toyota
Is it true that the crown will no longer be a sedan and become an SUV?都内トヨタディーラーのショールーム。2020年11月2日にクラウンの一部改良が発表されたが、シュールームに展示されるのは12月以降になるという。販売現場ではクラウンがなくなるのか、という問い合わせの電話が多くかかってきているという 2020年11月11日、「クラウンのセダンが生産終了し、SUVに移行」というニュースが一部報道で伝えられた。これは事実なのか?
However, a salesman at a Toyota dealer in the Tokyo metropolitan area said, "It's not that there are no roots or leaves. Until now, the theory of discontinuation of production of crowns has flowed frequently."
Why does this story come out? Demand for sedans has been declining rapidly over the past 10 years, the luxury sedan-FR diagram is crumbled, the FF market is progressing, and the sedan market itself is getting ahead of the curve.
In the first month of its launch, Crown received an order for about 30,000 units, which is about seven times the monthly sales target of 4,500 units, and got off to a good start. It sold 50,000 units in 2018, but only 36,000 units in 2019 and 18,000 units by October 2020.
In the Showa era, it was Reiwa, but as Heisei and the Reiwa, the rise of the Lexus brand has cast a shadow.
Mark X for his younger brother was also forced to stop production by the end of 2019. With the advent of the new Camry of FF cars that can take up a wide room for the crown, it is the current situation that the place is lost more and more.
Starting in May 2020, Crown switched from the previous exclusive Toyota store to a four-line store.
It was said that selling one crown would make 10 vitz (Yaris) revenue, and Toyopet, Corolla and Nets stores should have been looking forward to handling the crown.
However, if you look at the sales trend of crowns since then, sales have not increased significantly and continue to remain around 2000 units per month.
Since May 2020, the windows of the Corolla and Nets showrooms have been appealing by pasting the big letters "Alphard, Harrier is now available," but you'll notice that no dealers have listed the letters "Crown."
It seems to have become a long time ago that the blurt "Crown someday" was popular.
Partial improvements announced on November 2, 2020
Crowns that have been improved for the first time in two years and four monthsThe cockpit has been partially changed, such as two navigation is integrated into oneOn November 2, 2020, about 10 days before the report, Toyota announced a partially improved model of the crown. Since the current model appeared on June 26, 2018, it is the first improvement in two years and four months.
The "Double Display", an information screen that used two upper and lower screens (8 inches and 7 inches), has become a T-Connect SD navigation system that adopts a new 12.3-inch TFT touch-wide single-screen display.
In addition, Toyota adopted the driver abnormality response system, which supports early emergency medical care, for the first time.
In addition, we are strengthening our product lineup by improving the function of radar cruise control, curbing curve speed, adding right-hand accident response function to pre-crash safety, and expanding the number of models adopted for genuine leather seat specifications.
RS Advance is the main grade at Toyota stores in the Tokyo metropolitan area, 2WD of 2.5L hybrid (vehicle body price 5979,000 yen), Precious White Pearl, ETC2.0, floor mat, side visor, panoramic view monitor, body coat, drive recorder, etc. Including legal and non-statutory expenses, the price was more than 6.72 million yen.
The discount is about 200,000 yen at the first presentation, and it is astringent immediately after the improvement. The delivery date is February 2021, which is waiting for three months.
It's a lot of waiting, but it's not very popular. Toyota has recently taken a "monthly order system" to produce mass-market strategic models after ordering them. There is currently no difference in delivery times due to grades, body colors, options & accessories.
By the way, the Lexus LS will undergo a big minor change on November 19, 2020, and the MIRAI will undergo a full model change on December 9. Both share a crown and a platform.
The Lexus LS will be available on October 19, 2017, a big minor change in three years. The baton touch to the next model is expected around 2023.
Mirai's previous model was a four-seater FF with the same FR as the crown, and switched to a five-seater. The number of grades has been increased from one type to five, and the cruising range after hydrogen filling has been increased by about 30% to 650 km, and we plan to actively promote sales promotion measures.
The next-generation Crown development project is in motion and is expected to undergo a full model change in the fall of 2023.
I was able to hear important information from Toyota dealer executives. "The development project for the next-generation Crown is moving, and we have heard that it will undergo a full model change around the fall of 2023," he said. However, he has not heard of an SUV that ends the sedan he was reporting.
Furthermore, he pointed out that "if you look at the current demand trends, the market is definitely on a shrinking trend, and there is no denying the possibility that future trends will be forced to abolish the model in the future."
The most recent core users of Crown are executives of large companies, representatives of owner companies, salaried workers with high incomes, and the majority are men in their 50s or older.
The current model features a fastback and stylish exterior design for rejuvenating.
At one point, he succeeded in rejuvenating somewhat and increased the number of units sold, but recently he has turned to a head-to-head trend again.
There is also a view that the fastback has narrowed the trunk room, reduced the space for four golf backs, and made it even more popular for users to flow to the Lexus LS, Benz S-Class and BMW5 Series.
Especially in corporate demand, it changes from crown to alphard, and it is no longer "Alphard someday".
On the other hand, if you look at the trend of SUVs, the Land Cruiser in spring 2021 and the Land Cruiser Prado will be fully redesigned in 2022.
Looking at it this way, is there a possibility that Toyota, which already has a full lineup of SUVs, will dare to launch a crown SUV?
If the Crown is a serious SUV, it is expected that Toyota's luxury SUV, which is being deployed in overseas markets, will use the same platform as the Highlander to make the Crown Cross, but it is not yet understood. In the future, I will deliver it as soon as information enters. Highlanders sold in the North American market. It will be one class above RAV4. By the way, Rolls-Royce and Bentley each have a lineup of SUVs called Carinan and Benteiga, but the base sedan is alive and well.
In the best car, the next crown is expected to be a brother car of direct 6FR jointly developed with Mazda
Mazda's single global sales of 1.6 million units per year are not expected to recover development costs even if a large D-segment FR platform for saloons is developed. However, there was a collaboration with Toyota in the background to dare to step there (CG illustration of the next crown was produced by Best Car)Expected CG illustration of the next Mazda 6 produced by Best Car. With the modularization of the straight six engines, it will probably have a total displacement of 499.25cc per cylinder and a total displacement of 2996cc. A platform that is vertically placed on the front and drives the rear wheels is also newly developed.Text/Best Car Web Editorial Department
For some time, Best Car has been providing information that the next crown will be equipped with a FR platform, Direct 6, developed by Mazda in collaboration with Mazda.
Toyota has a capital alliance with Mazda, which will link Mazda to the development of the FR platform, which Mazda has declared in its medium- to long-term plan, as well as the development of in-line six-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines.
Two days before the news of the end of the Crown sedan, Mazda announced its "Medium-Term Management Plan Review" on November 9, 2020.
Among them, the company has released photos of vertical inline six-cylinder, vertical inline four-cylinder engines and plug-in hybrids, and has indicated that it will continue to invest in large products and multi-electrification technologies under development, and will launch them sequentially from 2022 onwards.
According to the information that The Best Car is grasping, both the FR platform and the straight six engines are not deployed by Mazda alone, but if there is joint development with Toyota, it is a development resource investment.
Mazda's annual global sales are around 1.6 million units. Even with the development of the D-segment FR saloon, it is difficult for the Mazda brand alone to raise revenue commensurate with development costs.
That's where we work with Toyota, which has a partnership with Toyota. The explanation of developing a new platform and power train by making use of it in crown etc. is attached.
In other words, mazda will take the lead in developing powertrains and platforms, but Toyota and Mazda will each proceed with total vehicle development based on their own product plans.
Parts sharing of chassis and inner body is achieved, while compressing the development cost, the interior and exterior will be developed as a completely different vehicle.
Mazda's large-sized FR's direct 6 sedan will be launched in 2022 or 2022, but it is close to the reported "Crown will appear as an SUV in 2022."
As the best car web, the sedan of the next crown will not disappear, it will not become an SUV. It is expected that it will survive as a straight 6 large sedan of FR jointly developed with Mazda, that is, a brother car of the next Mazda 6.
In any case, there are still a lot of uncertainties, so as soon as we know the information, I'll report it.
11-14-20, 12:41 PM
Masaki Ono
On November 11, 2020, the Chunichi Shimbun reported that the Crown sedan will be finished production at its current model and will be launched as an SUV in 2022.
Is it true that the crown will no longer be a sedan and become an SUV?
都内トヨタディーラーのショールーム。2020年11月2日にクラウンの一部改良が発表されたが、シュールームに展示されるのは12月以降になるという。販売現場ではクラウンがなくなるのか、という問い合わせの電話が多くかかってきているという 2020年11月11日、「クラウンのセダンが生産終了し、SUVに移行」というニュースが一部報道で伝えられた。これは事実なのか? 
Crowns that have been improved for the first time in two years and four months
The cockpit has been partially changed, such as two navigation is integrated into oneOn November 2, 2020, about 10 days before the report, Toyota announced a partially improved model of the crown. Since the current model appeared on June 26, 2018, it is the first improvement in two years and four months.
Highlanders sold in the North American market. It will be one class above RAV4. By the way, Rolls-Royce and Bentley each have a lineup of SUVs called Carinan and Benteiga, but the base sedan is alive and well.
Mazda's single global sales of 1.6 million units per year are not expected to recover development costs even if a large D-segment FR platform for saloons is developed. However, there was a collaboration with Toyota in the background to dare to step there (CG illustration of the next crown was produced by Best Car)
Expected CG illustration of the next Mazda 6 produced by Best Car. With the modularization of the straight six engines, it will probably have a total displacement of 499.25cc per cylinder and a total displacement of 2996cc. A platform that is vertically placed on the front and drives the rear wheels is also newly developed.Text/Best Car Web Editorial Department
Is it true that the crown will no longer be a sedan and become an SUV?
都内トヨタディーラーのショールーム。2020年11月2日にクラウンの一部改良が発表されたが、シュールームに展示されるのは12月以降になるという。販売現場ではクラウンがなくなるのか、という問い合わせの電話が多くかかってきているという 2020年11月11日、「クラウンのセダンが生産終了し、SUVに移行」というニュースが一部報道で伝えられた。これは事実なのか? 
Crowns that have been improved for the first time in two years and four months
The cockpit has been partially changed, such as two navigation is integrated into oneOn November 2, 2020, about 10 days before the report, Toyota announced a partially improved model of the crown. Since the current model appeared on June 26, 2018, it is the first improvement in two years and four months.
Mazda's single global sales of 1.6 million units per year are not expected to recover development costs even if a large D-segment FR platform for saloons is developed. However, there was a collaboration with Toyota in the background to dare to step there (CG illustration of the next crown was produced by Best Car)
Expected CG illustration of the next Mazda 6 produced by Best Car. With the modularization of the straight six engines, it will probably have a total displacement of 499.25cc per cylinder and a total displacement of 2996cc. A platform that is vertically placed on the front and drives the rear wheels is also newly developed.Text/Best Car Web Editorial Department