In Appreciation of the New Toyota Century

Posted by Kevin on June 26th, 2018

For the first time in 21 years, a new Toyota Century sedan is on sale in Japan. The limousine’s classic design has been tastefully updated, with the type of luxury normally associated with the company’s Lexus brand:

The detail work is astounding — the phoenix badge is hand-carved by a master craftsman over six weeks, the front grille has a infinite loop patterned backdrop based on a traditional Japanese design, and the black exterior paint uses a seven-stage process similar to Ultrasonic Blue Mica and Infrared from the Lexus color palette.

Much like the Lexus LS, the Century boasts an expansive rear cabin, with a massaging seat, personal climate controls, and a 11.6-inch entertainment system:

Toyota has replaced the previous generation’s bespoke 5.0L V12 engine with the 5.0L V8 hybrid powertrain found in the fourth-generation LS 600h. The total system horsepower is 425 horsepower and 376 lb.ft of torque.

The Century will retail for ¥19.6 million ($178,000 USD) and is available in four colors: black, silver, blue and burgundy. Only 50 will be sold each month.

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Comments
Gecko
Two things:

1) is that the same powertrain from the LS 600hL? Or is this an updated version?

2) is that cloth interior? If so, why?
Gecko
Two things:

1) is that the same powertrain from the LS 600hL? Or is this an updated version?

2) is that cloth interior? If so, why?
krew
First of all -- OMG I LOVE THIS CAR ITS AMAZING

Gecko
1) is that the same powertrain from the LS 600hL? Or is this an updated version?
Has to be, I don't think we'll see a new V8 hybrid unless TMC figures out how to turbocharge it.

Gecko
2) is that cloth interior? If so, why?
Customers that buy the Century prefer the silence of a cloth interior. Leather is an option.
krew
First of all -- OMG I LOVE THIS CAR ITS AMAZING

Gecko
1) is that the same powertrain from the LS 600hL? Or is this an updated version?
Has to be, I don't think we'll see a new V8 hybrid unless TMC figures out how to turbocharge it.

Gecko
2) is that cloth interior? If so, why?
Customers that buy the Century prefer the silence of a cloth interior. Leather is an option.
mmcartalk
Gecko
2) is that cloth interior? If so, why?
Looks like velour. I've always liked velour seats myself. That is a seat-covering that has largely been forgotten from modern luxury cars, where everything is either leather or leatherette.

I also like the general looks of this car. It actually looks like a sedan, not a four-door coupe.
mmcartalk
Gecko
2) is that cloth interior? If so, why?
Looks like velour. I've always liked velour seats myself. That is a seat-covering that has largely been forgotten from modern luxury cars, where everything is either leather or leatherette.

I also like the general looks of this car. It actually looks like a sedan, not a four-door coupe.
mmcartalk
Gecko
2) is that cloth interior? If so, why?
Looks like velour. I've always liked velour seats myself. That is a seat-covering that has largely been forgotten from modern luxury cars, where everything is either leather or leatherette.

I also like the general looks of this car. It actually looks like a sedan, not a four-door coupe.
Joaquin Ruhi
Gecko
Two things:

1) is that the same powertrain from the LS 600hL? Or is this an updated version?

2) is that cloth interior? If so, why?
The answers to both questions are buried in the press release at the top of this thread.

1) The 2UR-FSE engine code indeed reveals it to be the LS 600h powertrain. Whether or not it's identical in the Toyota Century or if it's received tweaks or modifications (or, for that matter, whether it's RWD or AWD) hasn't been revealed yet.

2) The fabric in the interior is neither cloth nor velour, but 100% wool. This is a Toyota Century tradition, for the noise reasons mentioned above.

Perhaps in a sign of how quickly change is coming to the automotive world, the original Toyota Century made its debut at the 1967 Tokyo Motor Show alongside the 3rd-generation Toyota Crown. The original Century was built for almost 30 years, and 1997 saw the release of the 2nd-gen Century. That one, however, was built for "only" 20 years. Now, on the 50th anniversary of the original's debut, a 3rd-gen Century is born, alongside the 15th-gen Crown. Which begs the question: will Toyota's 3rd-gen Century be built until 2037? Or is automotive evolution moving so quickly that the 4th-gen Century could come in 2027?
Joaquin Ruhi
Gecko
Two things:

1) is that the same powertrain from the LS 600hL? Or is this an updated version?

2) is that cloth interior? If so, why?
The answers to both questions are buried in the press release at the top of this thread.

1) The 2UR-FSE engine code indeed reveals it to be the LS 600h powertrain. Whether or not it's identical in the Toyota Century or if it's received tweaks or modifications (or, for that matter, whether it's RWD or AWD) hasn't been revealed yet.

2) The fabric in the interior is neither cloth nor velour, but 100% wool. This is a Toyota Century tradition, for the noise reasons mentioned above.

Perhaps in a sign of how quickly change is coming to the automotive world, the original Toyota Century made its debut at the 1967 Tokyo Motor Show alongside the 3rd-generation Toyota Crown. The original Century was built for almost 30 years, and 1997 saw the release of the 2nd-gen Century. That one, however, was built for "only" 20 years. Now, on the 50th anniversary of the original's debut, a 3rd-gen Century is born, alongside the 15th-gen Crown. Which begs the question: will Toyota's 3rd-gen Century be built until 2037? Or is automotive evolution moving so quickly that the 4th-gen Century could come in 2027?
Joaquin Ruhi
Gecko
Two things:

1) is that the same powertrain from the LS 600hL? Or is this an updated version?

2) is that cloth interior? If so, why?
The answers to both questions are buried in the press release at the top of this thread.

1) The 2UR-FSE engine code indeed reveals it to be the LS 600h powertrain. Whether or not it's identical in the Toyota Century or if it's received tweaks or modifications (or, for that matter, whether it's RWD or AWD) hasn't been revealed yet.

2) The fabric in the interior is neither cloth nor velour, but 100% wool. This is a Toyota Century tradition, for the noise reasons mentioned above.

Perhaps in a sign of how quickly change is coming to the automotive world, the original Toyota Century made its debut at the 1967 Tokyo Motor Show alongside the 3rd-generation Toyota Crown. The original Century was built for almost 30 years, and 1997 saw the release of the 2nd-gen Century. That one, however, was built for "only" 20 years. Now, on the 50th anniversary of the original's debut, a 3rd-gen Century is born, alongside the 15th-gen Crown. Which begs the question: will Toyota's 3rd-gen Century be built until 2037? Or is automotive evolution moving so quickly that the 4th-gen Century could come in 2027?
mmcartalk
Joaquin Ruhi
2) The fabric in the interior is neither cloth nor velour, but 100% wool. This is a Toyota Century tradition, for the noise reasons mentioned above.
Interesting. I wasn't aware of that. I've never heard of wool on regular factory seats, although Rolls-Royce used to use fleece-floor mats (don't know if they still do), and aftermarket sheep-skin wool seat-covers have been available in auto-parts store for many years.
mmcartalk
Joaquin Ruhi
2) The fabric in the interior is neither cloth nor velour, but 100% wool. This is a Toyota Century tradition, for the noise reasons mentioned above.
Interesting. I wasn't aware of that. I've never heard of wool on regular factory seats, although Rolls-Royce used to use fleece-floor mats (don't know if they still do), and aftermarket sheep-skin wool seat-covers have been available in auto-parts store for many years.
mmcartalk
Joaquin Ruhi
2) The fabric in the interior is neither cloth nor velour, but 100% wool. This is a Toyota Century tradition, for the noise reasons mentioned above.
Interesting. I wasn't aware of that. I've never heard of wool on regular factory seats, although Rolls-Royce used to use fleece-floor mats (don't know if they still do), and aftermarket sheep-skin wool seat-covers have been available in auto-parts store for many years.
mikeavelli
I love the rear..... crazy they still offer this!
mikeavelli
I love the rear..... crazy they still offer this!
mikeavelli
I love the rear..... crazy they still offer this!
S
Joaquin Ruhi
will Toyota's 3rd-gen Century be built until 2037? Or is automotive evolution moving so quickly that the 4th-gen Century could come in 2027?
Fuel Cell Century state car for the next emperor perhaps.
S
Joaquin Ruhi
will Toyota's 3rd-gen Century be built until 2037? Or is automotive evolution moving so quickly that the 4th-gen Century could come in 2027?
Fuel Cell Century state car for the next emperor perhaps.
S
Joaquin Ruhi
will Toyota's 3rd-gen Century be built until 2037? Or is automotive evolution moving so quickly that the 4th-gen Century could come in 2027?
Fuel Cell Century state car for the next emperor perhaps.
Carmaker1
Save for a few articles in Kodansha and Mag X since 2014 about this car, I started to worry it was vaporware. Knew I didn't imagine a new V8 Century all these years. Too bad it won't launch this year.

The outgoing generation actually entered production in 1996, even though it reached JDM in April 1997.
Carmaker1
Save for a few articles in Kodansha and Mag X since 2014 about this car, I started to worry it was vaporware. Knew I didn't imagine a new V8 Century all these years. Too bad it won't launch this year.

The outgoing generation actually entered production in 1996, even though it reached JDM in April 1997.
Carmaker1
Save for a few articles in Kodansha and Mag X since 2014 about this car, I started to worry it was vaporware. Knew I didn't imagine a new V8 Century all these years. Too bad it won't launch this year.

The outgoing generation actually entered production in 1996, even though it reached JDM in April 1997.
C
  • C
    CIF
  • October 22, 2017
Great to see the next-gen Century finally as an official thing. The new interior is wonderful, exterior is classic as it always has been. I wonder if the car is on GA-L as its not explicitly mentioned.

Sad though to see the demise of the GZ V12. Not sure that the LS600h powertrain in this new Century is much of an improvement, if at all, over the GZ in terms of refinement, and NVH levels.
C
  • C
    CIF
  • October 22, 2017
Great to see the next-gen Century finally as an official thing. The new interior is wonderful, exterior is classic as it always has been. I wonder if the car is on GA-L as its not explicitly mentioned.

Sad though to see the demise of the GZ V12. Not sure that the LS600h powertrain in this new Century is much of an improvement, if at all, over the GZ in terms of refinement, and NVH levels.
C
  • C
    CIF
  • October 22, 2017
Great to see the next-gen Century finally as an official thing. The new interior is wonderful, exterior is classic as it always has been. I wonder if the car is on GA-L as its not explicitly mentioned.

Sad though to see the demise of the GZ V12. Not sure that the LS600h powertrain in this new Century is much of an improvement, if at all, over the GZ in terms of refinement, and NVH levels.
S
mmcartalk
Interesting. I wasn't aware of that. I've never heard of wool on regular factory seats, although Rolls-Royce used to use fleece-floor mats (don't know if they still do), and aftermarket sheep-skin wool seat-covers have been available in auto-parts store for many years.
btw, they also have leather as in top end Lexi...
S
mmcartalk
Interesting. I wasn't aware of that. I've never heard of wool on regular factory seats, although Rolls-Royce used to use fleece-floor mats (don't know if they still do), and aftermarket sheep-skin wool seat-covers have been available in auto-parts store for many years.
btw, they also have leather as in top end Lexi...
S
mmcartalk
Interesting. I wasn't aware of that. I've never heard of wool on regular factory seats, although Rolls-Royce used to use fleece-floor mats (don't know if they still do), and aftermarket sheep-skin wool seat-covers have been available in auto-parts store for many years.
btw, they also have leather as in top end Lexi...
S
It's so funny to see random ignorant Americans on other sites saying this thing is "small". Well for japanese roads it's a moving ice berg, and other cars had better make way for it.
S
It's so funny to see random ignorant Americans on other sites saying this thing is "small". Well for japanese roads it's a moving ice berg, and other cars had better make way for it.

S