Toyota launches remodeled Crown luxury sedan

Toyota Motor Corp. on Tuesday launched a completely remodeled Crown luxury sedan featuring an all-new design and improved safety functions. Toyota aims to expand its customer base in the midst of the shrinking domestic sedan market, by renovating its most popular sedan for the first time since 2008. It plans to sell 4,000 units a month of the new Crown. The 14th generation Crown is available with a gasoline engine or with a newly developed hybrid system. Hybrid models will start production from late January, Toyota said. The new vehicle is equipped with improved safety technology to help avoid car crashes. It is also installed with a system that automatically applies the brake in the event of pedal misapplication in a parking space, according to the company.