The Toyota Progrès (pronounced "Prog-Ray") is a
mid-size
Mid-size—also known as intermediate—is a vehicle size class which originated in the United States and is used for cars larger than compact cars and smaller than full-size cars. "Large family car" is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in ...
luxury
Luxury may refer to:
* Luxury goods, an economic good or service for which demand increases more than proportionally as income rises
*Luxury tax, tax on products not considered essential, such as expensive cars
**Luxury tax (sports), surcharge pu ...
sedan which was sold in
Japan from May 1998 to June 2007, replacing the
Toyota Corona EXiV
The Corona EXiV is an automobile manufactured by Toyota Motor Company. Released in 1989, it was the luxury hardtop version of the Corona and was introduced to emulate the twin Carina ED. The letters ''EXiV'' are derived from the words EXtra impr ...
. The Progrès included 2.5 L or 3.0 L
JZ inline 6-cylinder engines with
VVT-i
VVT-i, or Variable Valve Timing with intelligence, is an automobile variable valve timing technology developed by Toyota. It was first introduced in 1995 with the '' 2JZ-GE'' engine found in the JZS155 Toyota Crown and Crown Majesta.
The VVT- ...
. Since April 2001, the Progrès used 1JZ-FSE (2.5 L) and 2JZ-FSE (3.0 L)
direct injection (D4) engines. The versions with a 1JZ engine were called NC250, and those with a 2JZ engine NC300. It was exclusive to Toyota Japan dealerships ''
Toyopet Store
Toyota vehicles in Japan are distributed to numerous dealership chains throughout the country. Up to May 2020, each dealership chain had a different product offering, with some models restricted to one chain to maintain exclusivity. Since May 2020, ...
'', while its twin the
Brevis was exclusive to ''
Toyota Store
Toyota vehicles in Japan are distributed to numerous dealership chains throughout the country. Up to May 2020, each dealership chain had a different product offering, with some models restricted to one chain to maintain exclusivity. Since May 2020, ...
'' locations, and shared a marketing approach used on the ''
Toyota Vista Store'' alternative, called the
Toyota Verossa
The is a mid-size sedan produced by Toyota for the Japanese market, and was exclusive new to the ''Netz Store'' locations as the smaller companion sedan to the Aristo. The Verossa exceeded Japanese government dimension regulations concerning ...
. The width and engine displacement exceed
Japanese Government regulations concerning exterior dimensions and engine displacement, and therefore it classified in the larger "passenger car" tax bracket. Two engine sizes were offered to allow Japanese buyers which annual
road tax
Road tax, known by various names around the world, is a tax which has to be paid on, or included with, a motorised vehicle to use it on a public road.
National implementations Australia
All states and territories require an annual vehicle registra ...
they were willing to pay; the larger engine did offer higher levels of standard equipment and luxury features.
The name "progrès" is
French for "progress".
The Progrès was available with 6 airbags, voice activated GPS system called
G-Book, NAVI AI-SHIFT world first GPS-guided car
transmission (mechanics)
Propulsion transmission is the mode of transmitting and controlling propulsion power of a machine. The term ''transmission'' properly refers to the whole drivetrain, including clutch, gearbox, prop shaft (for rear-wheel drive vehicles), diff ...
,
full wood and leather trim, gilt or silver analogue clock and full soft touch plastic interior, dual zone air conditioning and automatic head lights and wipers. Interior size was also generous, offering the best cu. ft. of space in its class, despite its Lexus IS underpinnings – yet, unlike the Lexus IS, the ride was "willing and ready" rather than the sort of ride expected from a sport sedan, as it was installed with double wishbone suspension at both the front and rear wheels.
The Progrès was discontinued in Japan in June 2007, while the slightly smaller
Toyota Premio
The and its twin the are sedans sold in Japan from 2001 to 2021 by Toyota. The sedans are designated as a compact car by Japanese dimension regulations and the exterior dimensions do not change with periodic updates. Unlike Toyota's other v ...
continued as an affordable luxury car offering.
See also
*
Toyota Brevis
The Toyota Brevis is a former mid-size luxury sedan introduced in May 2001, that was sold only in Japan.
Sales started in June 2001. The Brevis was produced for six years before being discontinued in 2007. The Brevis was exclusive to Toyota Japa ...
References
External links
Official
Progres
Luxury vehicles
Cars introduced in 1998
{{modern-auto-stub
2000s cars