Shanghai (ZXZC)- The first Crown Kluger SUV rolled off the assembly line on August 16 at FAW-Toyota's Tianjin-based manufacturing plant, marking that the joint venture between FAW Group and Toyota Motor has filled in the gap in market deployment of premium cars.

Crown Kluger; photo credit: FAW-Toyota

The Kluger is the first model under Crown, which was just claimed by FAW-Toyota as a premium car brand in mid-July. Last month, the company started taking orders for the Kluger and announced the presale price range of 280,000 yuan ($43,230) to 370,000 ($57,120).

Unveiled at the Auto Shanghai 2021, the Crown Kluger is the sister model of the fourth-generation Toyota Highlander, which is currently made by GAC Toyota. It features a revamped mesh grille at the front with a Crown's signature logo instead of a Toyota badge. A restyled front bumper with a large air intake in the center offers an unmistakable look to the SUV.

The Kluger rides on the TNGA-K platform, on which the Toyota Camry and RAVA are also based. It measures 5,015mm long, 50mm more than that of the all-new Highlander. Both models feature a width and height of 1,930mm and 1,750mm, and have a 2,850-mm wheelbase.

According to a document from China's MIIT, the new SUV will be equipped with a hybrid 2.5-litre petrol engine churning out up to 141kW, mated to an e-CVT.