Although the new Toyota Century will not be available in the United States, we are still perplexed: Inevitably, Toyota’s stoic, occasionally V-12-powered, and utterly luscious chauffeur vehicle has failed. Now it’s an SUV. Pay attention to its widened shoulders.
On its Japanese domestic and media websites on Wednesday morning, Toyota unveiled the plans to manufacture a brand-new Century SUV. This is a keynote where Simon Humphries, chief branding officer for Toyota, discusses the transition from sedan to SUV. His speech is framed by two Century sedans on stage, with the new SUV at the forefront. The presentation is worth looking at because it explains the early stages of the Century sedan’s development, which led to the creation of Japan’s first chauffeur car.
According to the presentation, the Century namesake was first introduced in 1967 to commemorate the 100th birthday of Toyota Group founder Sakichi Toyoda. That early Century is not like the magnificent Century sedan that is ingrained in our minds—one that is covered in leather, has a passenger seat that is both extravagant and kitschy, and is indefinably Japanese.
Therefore, it’s possible that the new century is closer to the established ideal of its name. It is a vehicle made to transport VIPs in absolute privacy, discretion, and comfort from one business location to another. The Century SUV’s 3.5-liter V-6 plug-in hybrid powertrain, with 406 horsepower at full output and a whisper-quiet all-electric range of up to 43 miles, should contribute to this goal.
The 5600-pound SUV is heavily influenced by the ultra-luxurious design of previous ultra-expensive SUVs; The beltline and D-pillar of this truck contain a small amount of Cullinan; The wheels and arches bear a faint resemblance to Bentayga. As has always been the Century’s design, this Toyota was made for Japan’s elite.
However, the Century SUV’s interior, particularly its pair of rear seats, justifies the roughly $170,000 price tag. If necessary, the seats recline nearly flat and appear extremely cushy. There is even a driving mode on the vehicle that reduces braking jolts for the comfort of those in those seats. It looks like heaven from there.
“The elegance of the transition from public to private realms is an art in itself,” Humphries says in the presentation about the Century SUV’s distinctive customer base. If you’ve ever invented a unique method for making pincushion pins in the 1940s or manipulated energy markets in developing countries, you can probably relate to this sentiment.
If that describes you, you will love your Century SUV. America, for one thing.
