Tag Archives: Toyota

News

Toyota Adds Muscle and Matte Finish to Crown Estate Special Edition

June 16, 2025 Francis Mitterrand Leave a comment

In a bold move that leans into one of the car industry’s most niche but eye-catching trends, Toyota has unveiled a special edition of its recently launched Crown Estate in Japan — and it’s all about the matte.

Dubbed the Crown Estate Limited Matte Metal, this new edition wraps Toyota’s latest plug-in hybrid estate in a stealthy matte paint finish that’s sure to divide opinions. While matte finishes have long been associated with high-maintenance and niche appeal, Toyota is clearly betting that their moment has arrived — at least on home turf.

Unfortunately for North American enthusiasts, the special edition won’t be making its way across the Pacific. Although the standard Crown Estate is sold in the U.S. under the Crown Signia badge, this particular trim will remain exclusive to Japan.

Despite its name, the Crown Estate is more of a lifted wagon than a traditional estate, and the new matte treatment only amplifies its unique presence. It joins a growing lineup of matte-finished Crown models already available in Japan, including the Crown Crossover, Crown Sport, and Crown Sedan.

Toyota claims the paint isn’t just for looks — it’s engineered for practicality too. A special TM Coat is applied over the matte finish to resist scratches and protect against road grime. While not explicitly called a ceramic coating, it seems to offer similar benefits, with the caveat that it needs to be reapplied annually to retain its protective qualities.

The aesthetics don’t stop at the body. A set of 21-inch matte black wheels paired with red metallic brake calipers adds to the car’s aggressive stance. All the usual chrome accents — window trim, grille elements — have been blacked out for a cohesive, shadowy finish.

Inside, the cabin receives equally dramatic treatment. Black leather upholstery dominates, punctuated by gold metallic accents on the steering wheel, air vents, door handles, and a strip across the dashboard. The pièce de résistance? A subtle script on the dash that reads: “Matte Metal The Limited.”

Performance-wise, the Crown Estate Limited Matte Metal doesn’t just look bold — it drives that way too. Powered by a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, this plug-in hybrid generates a respectable 302 horsepower.

The special edition starts at 8,900,000 yen in Japan, or roughly $61,600 USD at today’s exchange rate — a premium price for a premium look.

With this latest release, Toyota continues to push the envelope on what’s expected from a legacy automaker. Love it or not, the Matte Metal Crown Estate makes one thing clear: Toyota believes matte is more than a fad — it’s a finish with staying power.

Source: Toyota

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News

Toyota Boss Warns Against Full EV Shift: ‘Millions of Jobs at Risk’

June 10, 2025 Francis Mitterrand Leave a comment

Akio Toyoda, chairman of Toyota and grandson of the company’s founder, has once again challenged the global push for rapid electrification, presenting data that questions the environmental benefits of a full shift to electric vehicles (EVs).

While most automakers race toward an all-electric future, Toyoda remains a vocal skeptic. At a recent industry event, he argued that forcing consumers into EVs too quickly could have severe economic and ecological consequences.

“The automotive industry is not ready for a full EV transition. Millions of jobs in the supply chain are at risk if we abandon internal combustion engines prematurely. And from an environmental standpoint, EVs are still dirtier than hybrids when you consider production and battery manufacturing,” said Toyoda.

Toyoda backed his claims with striking figures:

Toyota has sold 27 million hybrids since the first Prius launched in 1997.
According to Toyota’s calculations, these hybrids have had the same carbon impact as just 9 million EVs when factoring in battery production and vehicle manufacturing.
“One EV is as carbon-intensive as three hybrids,” he asserted.

While critics acknowledge that EV production emits more CO₂ upfront, studies show that over their lifetime, EVs typically offset these emissions with cleaner operation—especially in regions with renewable energy. Toyoda, however, insists that hybrids remain a more balanced solution for now.

“The enemy is carbon, not a particular technology. We should keep all options open,” said Toyoda.

Toyoda’s stance has drawn mixed reactions. Some applaud Toyota for resisting “groupthink” on EVs, while others argue the company is lagging behind competitors like Tesla and BYD.

As governments push for stricter emissions regulations, Toyota’s strategy will face increasing scrutiny. But for now, Toyoda remains steadfast: “The future isn’t just electric—it’s multi-faceted.”

Source: Reuters

Tuning

Toyota GR Yaris with Type-S Gen 2 aerodynamic kit

June 5, 2025 Francis Mitterrand Leave a comment

Japanese company HKS, which offers the best tuning products for the best driving experience, has produced an upgrade package for the Toyota GR Yaris. It is the Type-S Gen 2 aerodynamic kit that gives the GR Yaris a more aggressive look.

The Type-S Gen 2 includes a pronounced splitter made of GFRP that increases downforce on the front axle, new sills also made of GFRP, a carbon rear wing to maximize downforce, and aerodynamic additions on the edges of the rear bumper with carbon fins.

Precise data showing how much the installed components increase downforce has not been published. The Toyota GR Yaris with this package is already competing in the Japanese Super Endurance Series ST-2 class, which is definitely the best real-world test.

The GR Yaris is powered by a 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 261 hp (192 kW) and 266 lb-ft (360 Nm) of torque, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. It reaches 62 mph in 5.5 seconds with a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h).

Source: HKS

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