New Toyota Crown Sport PHEV Debuts With 302 HP and 90 KM EV Range

Released in Japan earlier this week is the new Toyota Crown Sport PHEV. It's now presented and the sportiest - priciest - version of the latest-gen Crown Crossover.

Toyota released a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of its latest generation Crown Sport, and it joins alongside the existing series parallel hybrid (HEV) version the firm released earlier. Unlike the latter HEV, this new PHEV version benefits with a sportier chassis setup, more power, and zero-emissions driving abilities.

Underneath, the Crown Sport PHEV pairs a 2.5-litre 4-cyl mill with two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack, altogether serving up 302 HP.

The Crown Sport PHEV employs combines a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre 4-cyl petrol mill with two electric motors and lithium-ion battery pack. Altogether, the total system output reads at 302 HP to drive all four wheels via an E-Four 4WD system.

The larger battery capacity and higher electric power output sees this PHEV variant offer 70 HP more than the HEV variant’s 231 HP figure. Said batteries can be charged fully in 5.5 hours using a standard outlet, but it also accepts rapid charging input and this sees 0-80% re-charges in just 38 minutes.

Besides the increased performance, the peppier PHEV setup also grants up to 90 KM of all-electric driving. In terms of overall efficiency, the Crown Sport PHEV boasts a total driving range of over 1,200 KM with both a full tank of petrol and full battery charge.

Besides the heightened output, the Crown Sport PHEV also benefits with a beefed up chassis that's more rigid, uprated suspension, larger brakes, as well as wider tyres wrapped around its 21-inch wheels.

To match the heightened outputs, Toyota has also beefed up the Crown Sport PHEV’s chassis. There are extra floor bracing added to improve chassis rigidity, whilst the shock absorbers and Adaptive Variable Suspension system have both been tweaked to match the strengthened chassis.

Elsewhere, Toyota also endowed the Crown Sport PHEV with larger 20-inch (508 MM) ventilated brake rotors matched with six-piston calipers. Perhaps this was warranted not just from the strengthened chassis, but the Crown Sport PHEV’s increased weight too – it tips the scale at 2,030 KG now.

Besides accepting rapid charging inputs, the Crown Sport PHEV also boasts a nifty 1,500-watt V2L function.

On board, the cabin gets sporty red-black upholstery, sports seats, red seatbelts, and a new "My Room Mode" that enables use of the climate control and infotainment whilst the car is plugged-in and charging.

Other nifty new additions include a “My Room Mode” that enables occupants to use the climate control and infotainment whilst the Crown Sport PHEV is plugged in and re-charging. There’s also a 1,500-watt external power supply function (V2L) for use during blackouts or emergencies.

Marketed as the Toyota Crown Sport PHEV RS in Japan, it is easily denoted visually through its variant-specific 21-inch black-finished wheels, red brake calipers, PHEV badging, as well as the cabin’s red-black upholstery, sports seats, and red seatbelts.

Key visual traits denoting this PHEV variant are its black 21-inch wheels, red-painted calipers, and PHEV badging.

Not only the sportiest version of the Crown Sport to spawn yet, the new Toyota Crown Sport PHEV is also the priciest version released thus far too as it commands a ¥7,650,000 (approx. RM247,761) price tag in Japan. Toyota is aiming to shift about 300 units of this new Crown Sport PHEV monthly too.