Toyota launches lower-priced Mark X sporty, luxury sedan

Tuesday 20th October, 01:30 AM JST

TOKYO —

Toyota Motor Corp launched nationwide Monday a new, sportier Mark X luxury sedan that comes with an affordable starting price and better fuel efficiency as the automaker eyes lifting flagging sales of conventional gasoline-powered cars. The second-generation Marx X, fully-remodeled for the first time since 2004, comes in three types—standard, sports and premium—with a starting price of 2.38 million yen for the rear-wheel-drive model with a 2.5-liter, V-6 engine. The starting price is about 100,000 yen cheaper than the first-generation model.

The new premium sedan has a more powerful 3.5-liter, V-6 engine and the high-end model is priced at 3.8 million yen. The 2.5-liter, two-wheel-drive models can travel 13 kilometers per liter and are all eligible for government subsidies for energy-saving cars.

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10 Comments

nisegaijin at 09:54 AM JST - 20th October

2007 Subaru Legacy GT can do the same 13km/l, and also has better handling, more power and all wheel drive. you can get them used for just a bit over 1 million now...
motytrah at 10:12 AM JST - 20th October

Subaru makes nice cars, but they have a lot more road noise and the interior trim isn't as nice as Toyota.
societymike at 10:22 AM JST - 20th October

^ Exactly, that Subaru is still a Subaru, not a much nicer Mark X. However, the whole Mark II series died when they made the Mark X. The Mark II series was a great car, with great power and potential for fun, and rear wheel drive, although mostly bought by ojsans. The Mark X is just a watered down obasan car with no power or potential for more.
saru_au at 04:15 PM JST - 20th October

13 kilometers per liter is considered an energy-saving car, what a joke :)
mygrain at 11:08 PM JST - 20th October

So what ! What consumers are interested in today is Toyota’s poor safety record. What I wanna know is how have they addressed their “sudden acceleration” problems? Their rollover data? Their failing brakes? And the most recent lawsuit claiming these hybrid engines are using stolen technology from the Americans !!! These are serious issues for the general public and possible consumers out there. Toyota has become too dangerous and flighty to be taken seriously.
Youjinbou at 11:25 AM JST - 21st October

Uh... Toyota is known for reliability, not poor safety, which is why they're the BIGGEST AUTOMAKER IN THE WORLD.
armadello at 06:05 PM JST - 21st October

"Uh... Toyota is known for reliability, not poor safety, which is why they're the BIGGEST AUTOMAKER IN THE WORLD."

I would say it has more to do with market protection at home in Japan and the fact that unabaited market access in the US has widdled GM's share way down. Even under those circumstances it's my understanding that GM is once again leading Toyota by more than 1 million cars sold to date. In any case, I'm one of those consumers who is sick of Toyota's non chalant attitude towards it's customers, especially those in America !
mygrain at 08:38 PM JST - 21st October

“Known for reliability”, and in bold cased letters no less ! Well “NOT SINCE 2007” they haven’t. Toyota lost it’s “automatic” seal of approval from Consumer Reports in the USA years ago. And considering that many of Toyotas major recalls go back to the early 2000’s, I for one am extremely interested in a response from Consumer Reports Editors. It is clear now that they were giving bogus support to defective products ! As for this new toy on the market, I’ll pass. Not until Toyota comes clean with the brakes, rollover issues, uncontrollable acceleration, and their variety of hybrid engine problems including claims of dumping (a new one) and the patent infringement suit. What a mess !
nandakandamanda at 08:50 PM JST - 21st October

Better not put aftermarket floor mats in it. Might ride up onto the gas pedal. Oops...

The car looks pretty nice though. (Not for me as I don't have any spare cash.)
zurcronium at 10:19 AM JST - 25th October

GM stopped caring about making cars decades ago, its doubtful that they care now either. At least Obama fired that idiot CEO who let GM go broke.

Last words on this matter, Prius. Game over.