In many ways, the Toyota Crown Signia is the thinking person’s Lexus RX. Same platform, same sort of hybrid powertrain as the RX 350h, a nicer interior, and a more approachable price tag. Plus, instead of looking like a tall crossover, it looks more like a lifted wagon. Think of it almost like a Japanese Volvo V90 Cross Country, and you’re in the right ballpark. However, ever since it was unveiled, one thought lingered in my head: How good would this look lowered?
See, the Crown Signia doesn’t sit massively tall, but it does ride nearly an inch higher off the ground than a Volvo V60 Polestar Engineered. That’s enough of a difference to create some space to allude to vague connotations of being able to tackle a dirt road, but what if that’s not in my purview? What if I want a sleek, low, efficient hybrid wagon for traffic jams, city commuting, and purely paved endeavors? The Crown Signia GT-S Performance Concept makes an intriguing point.
Built for the SEMA show in Las Vegas, the Crown Signia GT-S Performance Concept is still rocking the same pragmatic 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain as the production Crown Signia. This means you can expect somewhere in the ballpark of 38 MPG combined, which is remarkably solid for a big, comfortable IKEA run MVP. Instead, Toyota’s focused on suspension, rolling stock, and appearance, to great effect.
Let’s start with the lowdown on the low-down, because believe me, I cocked an eyebrow when I learned whose suspension components sit beneath this family hauler’s sheetmetal. Motion Control Suspension makes some really, incredibly, ridiculously nice stuff. We’re talking digressively valved coilovers built to handle heavy track use but still flexible enough to not beat you up on the public roads, with optional multi-way adjustment and remote reservoirs. A two-way set for an E46 BMW M3 costs around $5,000, and similar sensational units sit beneath the wide arches of the Crown Signia GT-S Performance Concept. A positive side effect is the way the suspension drops this thing low, contributing to a car-like stance.
Once you drop a car low, you’re going to have to fill out those arches, and Toyota’s done so with a set of what appear to be 21-inch HRE 520s wrapped in Toyo Proxes ST III crossover tires. Sensible rubber selection, a little bit of an oddball two-piece wheel in a modern monoblock world, but it all works together. Of course, simply slapping 21-inch wheels on something is usually a great way to make brakes look undersized, so Toyota has reached into the Lexus parts bin. The RX 500h F Sport features big six-piston front calipers and rides on the same TNGA-K platform as the Crown Signia, so this swap gives the OEM+ crowd an extra ray of hope.
Then there’s the body kit, which actually works better than expected. Wide, pumped, seamless arches eliminate the standard Crown Signia’s plastic wheel arch trims, while chunky lips and skirts anchor the thing to the ground. The fender vents are likely a bit unnecessary but do break up the sheetmetal, and almost seem like a shade of GRMN Corolla. Speaking of shades, something about the grey paint and red lipstick falls a bit flat. Details get lost in the dark paintwork, and red emblems are very 2014-with-a-can-of-Plasti-Dip. However, it’s subtle enough to blend in, and even the red-piped seats aren’t outrageous.
What Toyota’s done here is take the Crown Signia and turn one unit into something even more desirable. A sensible daily driver for the grown-up tuner crowd that by-and-large looks damn good. Strip off the red accents, and I’d have that in my driveway any day of the week. So, who’s going to step up to the plate and produce a great set of coilovers for the Crown Signia so we can build our own lowered examples?
Top graphic image: Toyota
I’ll take it with the HREs and suspension in Bronze Age or Finish Line Red, but without the body kit.
I get an odd sense of jealousy each time I see a Crown Signia on the road, which is fortunately often, and may mean they depreciate to the point where I can afford one some day.
Right idea, but not fully baked. The rolling stock is flat out absurd. Give me monotone bronze 20s with a little more sidewall.
Don’t even get me started on that rear diffuser.
And finally, can we stop doing the vestigial ‘floating roof’ blackout bar on the D pillar?
My parents were right. I need a station wagon!
The Crown Signia is my favorite looking Toyota that is currently sold new
No.
Sorry. This looks worse than stock. The flaring rear bumper skirt is ridiculous. Front fender ports? It’s everything I dislike about Toyota when Toyota tries to say sporty, whereas the stock Signia is one of the rare Toyotas that employs a clean and cohesive styling language from every angle. There’s a Signia a few doors down in the metallic copper and it’s a lovely wagon. No clown makeup needed.
I think it’s hilarious that the thin little red accent strips are part you seem to think went too far. Like the after dinner mint that finally blew up the fat guy in the Monty Python restaurant skit.
A suspension that advanced needs something more than the 2.5 eCVT powertrain. The 2.4-liter turbo hybrid would be nice.
As a child who grew up riding in station wagons, I go against the Autopian grain and generally dislike them with a passion. I also hate slammed vehicles. With all that out of the way, this is making me feel things like passion and desire.
Had to wipe the sweat from my forehead. This thing is beautiful!