- Limited Matte Metal Edition features matte grey paint and blacked-out trim.
- Found inside the cabin are black leather and gold-colored metallic accents.
- The Japan-exclusive is available only in PHEV form with 302 hp from $61,600.
Matte paint might not be for everyone, but Toyota seems to think it’s having a moment. A few months after the debut of the Crown Estate in Japan, a special edition has arrived that leans into the trend. While the Estate is sold in North America under the Crown Signia nameplate, this particular version with its unique paint finish won’t be making the trip. Figures.
Read: Toyota’s New JDM Crown Estate Gets A Pull-Out Deck Chair And 302 HP
Despite looking more like a lifted wagon than a conventional estate, the Limited Matte Metal version manages to pull off the look nicely. It now joins similar matte-finished editions of the Crown Crossover, Sport, and Sedan that have been quietly populating Toyota’s domestic lineup.
Many enthusiasts would agree that matte paints, when applied correctly, look superb. However, they usually require a lot of care to maintain their appearance. Thanks to its unique painting process, Toyota claims it has struck the perfect balance between style and practicality.
Applied over the paint is a special TM Coat to make it scratch-resistant and better protected from road grime. Think of it as a kind of ceramic coating, although Toyota hasn’t actually described it as such. It’s understood that it lasts roughly a year before it needs to be reapplied.
Complementing the stealthy exterior finish are a set of matte black 21-inch wheels that sit over red metallic brake calipers. Just like the other Limited Matte Black versions of the Crown, all of the Estate’s standard chrome trimmings, including the window surrounds, now sport a black finish.
Some minor changes have also been made to the cabin. Most parts are trimmed in black leather, but several accents on the steering wheel, air vents, and door handles, as well as a strip running along the dashboard, sport a golden metallic finish. There’s also a special script on the dash reading ‘Matte Metal The Limited’.
Toyota is offering the Matte Metal Crown Estate exclusively as a plug-in hybrid. Under the hood, there’s a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine working with two electric motors for a combined output of 302 horsepower.
As for pricing, the starting figure in Japan is 8,900,000 yen, which works out to roughly $61,600 at current exchange rates.
