Toyota has surprised everyone with its latest creation: a high-riding, four-door convertible version of its Crown crossover. While it's not the first crossover to lose its roof, it's rare to see this body style with four doors. Toyota designers had to overcome several challenges to build this unique convertible, using a 3D printer to produce many new components that seamlessly integrate with the rest of the bodywork.
The black-and-bronze Crown convertible has an elegant rear deck that seamlessly connects the stylish exterior with the white cabin. The four-door layout maintains the car's stylish proportions, setting it apart from other convertible crossovers. The engineers had to hand-weld new parts and add additional reinforcements, making the assembly process challenging. Nevertheless, the finished product looks like it came straight off the assembly line alongside the rest of the Crown lineup.
Toyota has a history of building convertible versions of the Crown, usually for parades and special events. The company is already producing different variants of the latest model, including sedans, wagons, and conventional crossovers. Depending on the reception, Toyota is considering expanding the Crown lineup with more body styles.
While there's a chance that the Crown convertible might enter mass production, Toyota faces an uphill battle. The Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet and the Land Range Rover Evoque Convertible had short lives, which doesn't bode well for Toyota. However, this concept is a good first attempt, and it would be interesting to see it on US roads.
