Toyota Chops Off the Crown's Roof To Prove It Can't Get Any Weirder Than This

No matter how conventional Toyota would seem when it comes to its models, except for the UFO-looking C-HR crossover, the Japanese carmaker sometimes goes over the line and does something out of the ordinary. And this is one of those times. Land Rover did it with its Range Rover Evoque, and it was a complete failure.

Volkswagen is still keeping the T-Roc Cabrio alive. But not even being the best-selling convertible in Europe in 2023, with approximately 12,000 units delivered, is not going to keep it alive for much longer as the Germans are planning to ditch it from the lineup.

Now, here comes Toyota, with the high-riding Crown sedan converted into a high-riding, four-door convertible. To get this design done, the Toyota engineers relied on a 3D printer to produce several new components for the bodywork of the new model.

It simply chopped off the roof, and the B- and C-pillars disappeared, revealing a stylish cabin with five seats in white leather. To regain the rigidity lost by chopping, the team had to weld by hand and carry out additional reinforcement on the body.

The lower section of the vehicle remained unchanged. Just like the donor car, it sports four doors and rides on stock multi-spoke wheels. The one-off does not feature a retractable roof and, if anyone decides to take it home and use it, they will have to store it in a garage to protect it from the elements.

Toyota must have reworked the suspension to hold the extra weight gained following the reinforcement of the body. There is no information on any upgrade on the powertrain. The range-topping crown is set in motion by a hybrid system, which integrates a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, generating 340 horsepower (344 horsepower), delivered to all four corners through a DirectShift six-speed automatic transmission,

The looks of the model might convince the Toyota head honchos to include it in the Crown production lineup, alongside the high-riding sedan and other three body styles they are planning to roll out.

A sedan, a hatchback, and a conventional crossover should join the sedan with high ground clearance that Toyota is currently selling in the United States. A convertible was never part of the plan, so don't expect to find it in dealerships any time soon.

Toyota has no convertible model in its lineup at the moment and is not planning any. However, the Japanese have been flirting with the idea. Just last month, the carmaker introduced the Century convertible SUV at the Grand Sumo Tournament in Japan, outside the Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo. Toyota's Chairman, Akio Toyoda, was present at the event in January.

It was a luxury convertible based on the Century SUV, commissioned by a retired sumo wrestler who intended to use it as a parade car for future champions. Back then, the original proposal coming from the automaker was reportedly a modified Crown instead of the Century SUV.

However, the officials from the Sumo Association declined the offer and insisted on having the convertible Century. Most likely, this drop-top high-ride sedan is what Toyota wanted to offer to the sumo wrestlers.