The Toyota Cressida is a mid-size, high-end luxury sedan renamed by Toyota in 1973, first exported from Japan in its second generation in 1977. It was the result of renaming the Corona Mark II in the United States. The same chassis, with slightly different bodies were available in other countries as the Toyota Mark II, Toyota Chaser and Toyota Cresta. The Cressida name was retired in 1993 (1992 in North America), but the chassis and Mark II, Chaser, and Cresta names continued production in Japan until the early 2000s.
In the United States, the Cressida was also known as a "four-door Supra", because the Supra and Cressida shared the same M series straight-6 engine, had rear-wheel drive, and were both flagship cars for Toyota North America at the time. Since the introduction of the Cressida in the USA, its primary competitor has been the Nissan Maxima.
The Cressida was available worldwide in a variety of forms and engines. Available engines included the G-series I6, M-series straight-6, and R-series straight-4 gasoline engines, as well as the L series diesel straight-4.
Japanese market tastes were generally "formal" in the mid-1980s for this segment and the Cressida followed. In 1985, the Cressida, Mark II and Chaser went slightly more upright and square, when overseas trends were beginning to move toward rounded, fluid shapes.
Because of its luxurious characteristics, the Cressida is often said to have provided the inspiration for the Lexus brand, which is a separate division from Toyota.
[citation needed]The name Cressida was used from a William Shakespere play Troilus and Cressida.
