TOKYO — Toyota has rolled out a fully redesigned, fifth-generation Majesta. The car is one of the Japan market's premier domestic sedans, originally introduced in 1991, and the new model is positioned as a high-tech flagship of the venerable Crown lineup.
The redesign brings fresh sheet metal, a 3-inch-longer wheelbase and a bigger 4.6-liter V8 engine — the same silky-smooth engine as in the Lexus LS 460, albeit with power and torque wound back to 342 horsepower and 339 pound-feet. It's mated to an eight-speed transmission.
The new model comes fitted with a wealth of cutting-edge technology that enters Lexus territory. Among the items on the new Majesta are three safety-oriented items announced as world firsts: a front pre-crash safety system, pre-crash seatbacks and an SRS rear center-seat airbag. The Majesta also gets noise-reducing glass and a trick night-view system with infrared camera to pick out pedestrians and other objects in front of the car.
Toyota is again doing an 4WD version, the i-Four, which runs with the previous-generation 4.3-liter V8 (276 hp) and six-speed automatic transmission.
The Majesta's design follows the traditional sober design but the sumptuous interior lacks for little and Modellista, Toyota's custom aftermarket arm, has already introduced a couple of versions with racier styling.
With a history dating back to 1955, the Toyota Crown still has a name and heritage all of its own in Japan but has suffered, as have other luxury sedans, from the ongoing sales slump.
Inside Line says: Toyota will be hoping that this all new Majesta, on the block for some $62,430-$80,850, will bring back some of the former luster. — Peter Nunn, Correspondent
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