The Toyota Crown Convertible is an exercise in enjoying design, with a single unit

Sometimes, brands go to great lengths to show that their engineering capabilities are quite high. So they launch cars that are nothing more than concept studies to prove they can do things with ease. Toyota has unveiled two models with which it wants to show that, although it currently has no convertible in its range, it is fully capable of designing one of these vehicles.

In recent days it has presented two models without a roof, a Toyota Century and a Toyota Crown. The first of these was used to carry the champions of the Sumo Championship, while the second has just been revealed and has surprised us.

To begin with, it is based on the regular Crown, whose bodywork has been adjusted to remove the roof so that it keeps all the model’s characteristics, but with these features. To reinforce the look, the pillars have also been removed, so that it displays a totally convertible appearance. That said, it does not have a fabric roof, since it has no roof at all, and it offers a truly striking image.

The doors have no frames, reinforcing the designers’ intentions. At the rear, a black trim has been added, intended to soften the visual impact of the missing rear glass.

Inside, we find the same five seats as in the Crown, with upholstery exclusive to this roofless version. The cargo space is also unchanged and allows you to carry the luggage you need at any time.

As for the powertrain, it retains the 2.4-litre turbo engine, which, combined with two electric motors, delivers 344 CV. An ideal car for special occasions that continues to stand out. That said, without a roof, it may not be a good idea to use the car’s full power.

Simon Humphreys, Toyota’s chief design officer, has made statements asserting that creating a convertible is quite complicated and that, to create the design, the occupants must also be considered as part of the design.

This will not be the last special vehicle built on the Toyota Crown Crossover, as the brand says it is working on a unit with off-road capabilities. For now, you can see this unit, which will not go into production and remains a curiosity offered by Toyota.