Does anyone have an opinion on the reported technology and engineering?

WHAT IS IT

The Crown DOESN'T have ANYTHING to do with the REAL Toyota Crown that was just a worse version of a Lexus LS. 

This "Crown" is a coupe-crossover version of the "Crown Kluger", the Chinese name for the Highlander.

It will NOT be a luxury car, it is a replacement to the Avalon that was it self a "Quasi"-Luxury car.

I don't expect it to take off, and neither is Toyota with very low sales expectations.

POWERTEAIN

The 2.5L Hybrid powertrain is almost identical to the Hybrid Avalon - 

We are familiar with that electric engine from the Corolla, CH-R and others and it's alright.

The Petrol 2.5 DynamicForce has some issues (EGR and water intrusion) but so far it's holding up.

I think 150k miles is doable with good maintenance although it's really not ideal.

The really interesting powertrain is the 2.4T Hybrid - this is a PEUGEOT-like hybrid set up!

As far as the engine, I wouldn't buy it - it's a collection of every bad design choice made by Toyota in one engine.

Plastic balance gears, tiny walls in the head's coolant jackets, variable performance oil pump, Electrically driven water pump, more than one cooling loop, tons of plastic all around the engine, fully electrically controlled water control system (no thermostat, only plastic electronic junk), the oil separator is inside of the intake manifold and the PVC valve is hidden under tons of plastic covers and other hardware (this is a Turbo engine, the valve is going to need replacing), the famous Toyota VSV and two big catalysts (probably a Petrol Particle Filter will be added too) 

In this case, a petrol engine is mated to a clutch, an EV motor, a small torque convertor, an automatic transmission.

As anyone who saw a Honda 8 speed torque converted dual clutch knows - this is a BAD idea.

Yikes! Worse than electric cars.

EDIT: The latter configuration is also less physically integrated than older models,

Not only are the HMG is NOT directly connected to the output, instead it spins the TC and the entire transmission,

(So you get the mechanical inefficiency, and as an insult to injury it will wear out faster than it could've otherwise)

There's now what appears to be a belt driven HSG on the other side of the engine complicating things even more.

Previously the most awkward hybrid powertrain design I saw was of a Chinese Luxury car,

basically two transmissions one for conventional and another for electric, creating a "10 speed automatic"

But at least here the EV motor is connected directly to the output -

So even that is less awkward than the new Crown.

THE BODY:

Overall, the US version has all of the disadvantages of a crossover and of a sedan - it's just meh, some people like these.

More infuriatingly, measuring proportions and looking at lines, It's obvious they copied Europe's best selling cars.

Speaking of copying PSA, the side design looks like the new Citroen C4, even the same back panel that's painted black.

OUTSIDE of the US, Toyota will also offer it as a Station Wagon.

Too bad Toyota seems to have replaced their design beuro with a photo copier and the entire rear looks similar to a xCEED

Toyota generally is original with designs, too bad that their new "unique car" is a ripoff.

Interior:

Everyone has decided their best option is to copy outdated Mercedes models,

so it's basically two large screens and a long center divider between the driver and the passenger.

The same idea as out-going Mercedes models.

Kia has also copied this design for most models a few years back.

MY OPINION:

I don't like it, basically a highlander - but worse.

Very interesting return to North America fs. That said, I do prefer the look of the other variants of the crown that we won't get, but the one we get looks interesting, especially the two-tone coloured models. A lifted sedan is definitely an interesting idea and it does share powertrains with the Camry and redesigned Lexus RX hybrid. Time will tell how they will hold up and play out in the real world.

The new Crown is based off the Camry hybrid platform. Which it shares with the RAV4, Venza, Highlander and more.

So you can basically think of it as an expensive Camry or any of the cars listed above, just with a sleeker looks, and more money to spend. 

The non-turbo hybrid is the one to get. Pass on the turbo one. For the reasons stated by others in this post.