2010 Toyota Mark X Update
August 20, 2009 by Justin Karow
Filed under Japanese News, Latest Articles
Our last article on the upcoming Toyota Mark X was a little thin on new information but Japanese automotive magazine “The My Car” have released an another update including images of the actual car as opposed to the usual renders.
Toyota have used the BMW 325i and V36 Nissan Skyline 250GT as the new 2.5L Mark X’s direct opposition and as such have designed a car to grab the attention away from it’s rivals while still keeping the overall look of the base grade car “sporty”. The images shown are actual Toyota Motor Co. images taken from a pre-release pamphlet that have been enhanced to bring out the design features. The 2010 Mark X will be available in three grades, Premium, Sports and Standard and as we mentioned in our last article, two engines will power the range with the 3.5L 2GR-FSE V6 being offered in the Premium and Sports models and the 2.5L 4GR-FSE powering lower grade Sports and Standard models. The larger 2GR-FSE 3.5L V6 will produce a very handy 318PS and the smaller 2.5L 2GR-FSE will put out a comparatively low 203PS.
The 3.5L Premium and Sports models will weigh in at 1550kg which is only a fraction heavier than the outgoing Premium and “S-Package” cars and apparently Toyota’s in-house car tuning and styling brand Modellista will offer a supercharger option for the two 3.5L models to take their total power outputs up to 360PS. For owners of the current Mark X wanting to upgrade to the latest offering, the 2010 Mark X Modellista version (named “Vertiga”) will certainly be the pick of the bunch, however all models are only available with 5-speed (2.5L) or 6-speed (3.5L) automatic transmissions. Manual transmissions are for specialty sports cars apparently! The Vertiga will also get the usual Modellista treatment such as 20mm lowered springs, 19 inch alloy wheels and subtle front and rear spoilers.
The new Mark X is expected to be priced at between 2,800,000 and 4,000,000 JPY and will go on sale in October.
Words: Justin Karow
Images: The My Car
It isn’t really a looker imo. This looks like a better looking Camry.
I liked everything about the original MarkX except for the headlights. This one is about the same with Crown style front fenders and worse headlights…
I have to say I am not really a fan.
No MT = Not happy
The car should be technically good, and the interior looks very nice, but that design it’s not to appealing to me, talking just about styling I would rather have the euro Toyota Avensis.
This new Mark X looks identical to the 2009 Acura TSX & Honda Accord (JDM & Euro models), i’m not impressed. if this car comes to the USA, i’ll buy the 2009-2010 Acura TSX instead.
I really do like the current Toyota Crown Athlete, although this new Mark X is less distinctive somehow… can’t really explain it.
TOM’S supercharged the outgoing Mark X but sold only very few of them, they wanted crazy money for a car that is one class lower than the Crown.
I real like the design but sadly no MT! Als nice to see that toyota is putting the mirrors where they belong. And not on the door, like on the crown and IS.
To elaborate on Stingray’s comments, I think Toyota has perfected the art of the stylistic mediocrity.
This car is the perfect example: Accentuated fender wells and agressive profile (i.e. the “chopped cabin look” that looked great when it came out on the Chrysler 300C years ago, but has been copied to death by every manufacturer since), an ugly grill with a sea of unnecessary chrome and plastic, and the “organically styled” headlights and tailights that look like they were stolen off a Hyundai. Don’t forget the bland color palette of “pearl”, “beige”, or–for those feeling especially saucy–”sand”.
Of course, it’ll run forever and probably sell millions worldwide, but why does reliability have to be so boring?
@SteveTX
The JZX90 markII had the chopped cabin look long before the chrysler.
T’erre: I agree, reminds me of a civic front mashed to an accord rear
SteveTX: “stylistic mediocrity” – spot on IMO
Looks like a bigger Corolla, but hey it’s still RWD!
Being a Toyota man of course I’ll support whatever RWD goodness they come up with, but this reminds me of the JZX110 Mark 2 which was as bland as hell only with some slightly original tail lights etc. The last Mark X was interesting and a step in the right diection but this new car well I’ll also agree with Steve TX.
The JZX110 looks like an Impala to me. You know the ones they use as police cruisers in Canada and some states.
хочу марк Х!
This certainly brings back memories!
Back in 2004, for some reason, a lot of people thought that the Mark X was the JDM version of the 2nd-generation Lexus IS (a son-of-Altezza, if you will). As editor of my.IS (a Lexus IS fan site), I felt compelled to write this article to clear up the misconceptions:
http://my.is/forums/f41/new-jdm-toyota-mark-x-its-not-next-231106/
Reading that this “new” Mark X (really a mid-term facelift on the current one) will offer a 360PS supercharger option on the 3.5-liter 2GR-FSE is what I find really intriguing. Any more word on this, Justin? Is this aftermarket or a factory option?
jruhi4: It’s not a mid-term facelift, that happened in October 2006, this is a new model. The supercharger is from Modellista the in-house tuning and styling brand from Toyota so it’s basically a factory option.
You’re right! The nose of the new Mark X and the overall shape look so much like the current one that I mistook it for a facelift. I took a closer look and realized that the fender sculpturing is different (and somewhat Mazdaesque) on the new one.
Still, it reminds me of the current USDM Toyota Corolla sedan versus its predecessor: it’s totally different yet looks a lot like the previous one.
jruhi4: Derek mentioned above how the new Mark X’s front fenders are similar to the current Crown: http://toyota.jp/crownroyal/index.html
Seems like they’re going for a “family look” in that regard.
Based on the pix, I am disappointed.
Coming from a 2006 model owner ….