In Appreciation of the New Toyota Century

A New Toyota With Previous Century Styling Is Japan's Rolls Royce

The most exclusive model from Japan is a car very few have ever heard about outside the country. The Toyota Century was born back in 1967 and was named for the 100th birthday of the company's founder, Sakichi Toyoda.

It remained unchanged for two decades, but at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show Toyota debuted a new generation of the Century.

Unveiled earlier this month, the flagship saloon could fool you into thinking that it's a 1990s car, featuring a classic boxy design with sharp angles that has slightly evolved over its predecessor, dominated by a large grille, rectangular headlights, and multi-spoke alloy wheels.

However, opening the door reveals a lot of modern equipment, such as the infotainment system, digital dials, and rear-seat entertainment, among others, which blends in with the classic style in a rather minimalistic layout. Users also get to enjoy the wood trim, wool/leather seating, premium audio system, reading light, writing table, and others, offered either as standard, or optional.

Toyota has yet to release the specs of the 2018 Century, but we already know that it uses the 5.0-liter V8 petrol engine and electric motor powering the LS 600h, backed up by a nickel-hydrogen battery pack.

Pricing details haven’t been announced either, but don't get your hopes too high, because the automaker still has no plans of offering their new flagship saloon outside Japan.

http://www.carscoops.com/2017/10/a-new-toyota-with-previous-century.html

A New Toyota With Previous Century Styling Is Japan's Rolls Royce

The most exclusive model from Japan is a car very few have ever heard about outside the country. The Toyota Century was born back in 1967 and was named for the 100th birthday of the company's founder, Sakichi Toyoda.

It remained unchanged for two decades, but at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show Toyota debuted a new generation of the Century.

Unveiled earlier this month, the flagship saloon could fool you into thinking that it's a 1990s car, featuring a classic boxy design with sharp angles that has slightly evolved over its predecessor, dominated by a large grille, rectangular headlights, and multi-spoke alloy wheels.

However, opening the door reveals a lot of modern equipment, such as the infotainment system, digital dials, and rear-seat entertainment, among others, which blends in with the classic style in a rather minimalistic layout. Users also get to enjoy the wood trim, wool/leather seating, premium audio system, reading light, writing table, and others, offered either as standard, or optional.

Toyota has yet to release the specs of the 2018 Century, but we already know that it uses the 5.0-liter V8 petrol engine and electric motor powering the LS 600h, backed up by a nickel-hydrogen battery pack.

Pricing details haven’t been announced either, but don't get your hopes too high, because the automaker still has no plans of offering their new flagship saloon outside Japan.

http://www.carscoops.com/2017/10/a-new-toyota-with-previous-century.html

I gotta admit, the retro 80s styling of that thing speaks to me. Just not as much as the new LS does.

I gotta admit, the retro 80s styling of that thing speaks to me. Just not as much as the new LS does.

I gotta admit, the retro 80s styling of that thing speaks to me. Just not as much as the new LS does.

I gotta admit, the retro 80s styling of that thing speaks to me. Just not as much as the new LS does.

Ian Schmidt

I gotta admit, the retro 80s styling of that thing speaks to me. Just not as much as the new LS does.

Despite the lack of a "coolness" factor, today's designers tend to forget now much sense those retro-sedan designs made, with the square, three-box styling.....high rooflines for headroom and ease of entry/exit, roomy cargo areas, large and easy-to-accomodate trunk lids, good outward visibility from the drivers' seat, easy cleaning of inside windows, and more room under the hood to reach and service the engine and its components. Today's Humpback-Whale, Jelly-Bean-shape, 4-door coupe-wanna-bes may look sleek, but with that slick look also comes a number of trade-offs.

Ian Schmidt

I gotta admit, the retro 80s styling of that thing speaks to me. Just not as much as the new LS does.

Despite the lack of a "coolness" factor, today's designers tend to forget now much sense those retro-sedan designs made, with the square, three-box styling.....high rooflines for headroom and ease of entry/exit, roomy cargo areas, large and easy-to-accomodate trunk lids, good outward visibility from the drivers' seat, easy cleaning of inside windows, and more room under the hood to reach and service the engine and its components. Today's Humpback-Whale, Jelly-Bean-shape, 4-door coupe-wanna-bes may look sleek, but with that slick look also comes a number of trade-offs.

Ian Schmidt

I gotta admit, the retro 80s styling of that thing speaks to me. Just not as much as the new LS does.

Despite the lack of a "coolness" factor, today's designers tend to forget now much sense those retro-sedan designs made, with the square, three-box styling.....high rooflines for headroom and ease of entry/exit, roomy cargo areas, large and easy-to-accomodate trunk lids, good outward visibility from the drivers' seat, easy cleaning of inside windows, and more room under the hood to reach and service the engine and its components. Today's Humpback-Whale, Jelly-Bean-shape, 4-door coupe-wanna-bes may look sleek, but with that slick look also comes a number of trade-offs.

Ian Schmidt

I gotta admit, the retro 80s styling of that thing speaks to me. Just not as much as the new LS does.

Despite the lack of a "coolness" factor, today's designers tend to forget now much sense those retro-sedan designs made, with the square, three-box styling.....high rooflines for headroom and ease of entry/exit, roomy cargo areas, large and easy-to-accomodate trunk lids, good outward visibility from the drivers' seat, easy cleaning of inside windows, and more room under the hood to reach and service the engine and its components. Today's Humpback-Whale, Jelly-Bean-shape, 4-door coupe-wanna-bes may look sleek, but with that slick look also comes a number of trade-offs.

Funny how time can change your perspectives.

For some reason, I still vividly recall the debut of the original Toyota Century in 1967. (I guess it was one of those Random Access Memories Daft Punk sang about a few years ago). I was just 11 years old and had been living in Spain for just a few months. Even as a child, I was as much an incurable car geek as I am now. I recall buying a magazine with coverage of the 1967 Tokyo Motor Show (though I don't recall if said magazine was British, Spanish or French. I lean towards the latter). One of the right-hand pages had a 2 x 3 grid of 6 photos of the cars that debuted there. Only 2 still stick in my mind, though: the 3rd-gen Toyota Crown and the Century, in black as it always is. I remember intensely disliking it, a stodgy, large car that reminded me of a bad enlarged copy of a Studebaker Lark.

Now, the 3rd-generation comes out, and I find myself totally loving it. It's still unmistakably a Toyota Century, but subtly modernized in all the right places and in such details as the headlight contours, grille proportions, a greenhouse that is ever so slightly more raked and moved back, and lower side chrome trim that looks to have a bit more of a modern matte finish and is not as tall as it used to be.

Funny how time can change your perspectives.

For some reason, I still vividly recall the debut of the original Toyota Century in 1967. (I guess it was one of those Random Access Memories Daft Punk sang about a few years ago). I was just 11 years old and had been living in Spain for just a few months. Even as a child, I was as much an incurable car geek as I am now. I recall buying a magazine with coverage of the 1967 Tokyo Motor Show (though I don't recall if said magazine was British, Spanish or French. I lean towards the latter). One of the right-hand pages had a 2 x 3 grid of 6 photos of the cars that debuted there. Only 2 still stick in my mind, though: the 3rd-gen Toyota Crown and the Century, in black as it always is. I remember intensely disliking it, a stodgy, large car that reminded me of a bad enlarged copy of a Studebaker Lark.

Now, the 3rd-generation comes out, and I find myself totally loving it. It's still unmistakably a Toyota Century, but subtly modernized in all the right places and in such details as the headlight contours, grille proportions, a greenhouse that is ever so slightly more raked and moved back, and lower side chrome trim that looks to have a bit more of a modern matte finish and is not as tall as it used to be.

Funny how time can change your perspectives.

For some reason, I still vividly recall the debut of the original Toyota Century in 1967. (I guess it was one of those Random Access Memories Daft Punk sang about a few years ago). I was just 11 years old and had been living in Spain for just a few months. Even as a child, I was as much an incurable car geek as I am now. I recall buying a magazine with coverage of the 1967 Tokyo Motor Show (though I don't recall if said magazine was British, Spanish or French. I lean towards the latter). One of the right-hand pages had a 2 x 3 grid of 6 photos of the cars that debuted there. Only 2 still stick in my mind, though: the 3rd-gen Toyota Crown and the Century, in black as it always is. I remember intensely disliking it, a stodgy, large car that reminded me of a bad enlarged copy of a Studebaker Lark.

Now, the 3rd-generation comes out, and I find myself totally loving it. It's still unmistakably a Toyota Century, but subtly modernized in all the right places and in such details as the headlight contours, grille proportions, a greenhouse that is ever so slightly more raked and moved back, and lower side chrome trim that looks to have a bit more of a modern matte finish and is not as tall as it used to be.

Funny how time can change your perspectives.

For some reason, I still vividly recall the debut of the original Toyota Century in 1967. (I guess it was one of those Random Access Memories Daft Punk sang about a few years ago). I was just 11 years old and had been living in Spain for just a few months. Even as a child, I was as much an incurable car geek as I am now. I recall buying a magazine with coverage of the 1967 Tokyo Motor Show (though I don't recall if said magazine was British, Spanish or French. I lean towards the latter). One of the right-hand pages had a 2 x 3 grid of 6 photos of the cars that debuted there. Only 2 still stick in my mind, though: the 3rd-gen Toyota Crown and the Century, in black as it always is. I remember intensely disliking it, a stodgy, large car that reminded me of a bad enlarged copy of a Studebaker Lark.

Now, the 3rd-generation comes out, and I find myself totally loving it. It's still unmistakably a Toyota Century, but subtly modernized in all the right places and in such details as the headlight contours, grille proportions, a greenhouse that is ever so slightly more raked and moved back, and lower side chrome trim that looks to have a bit more of a modern matte finish and is not as tall as it used to be.

Joaquin Ruhi

Funny how time can change your perspectives.

For some reason, I still vividly recall the debut of the original Toyota Century in 1967. (I guess it was one of those Random Access Memories Daft Punk sang about a few years ago). I was just 11 years old and had been living in Spain for just a few months. Even as a child, I was as much an incurable car geek as I am now. I recall buying a magazine with coverage of the 1967 Tokyo Motor Show (though I don't recall if said magazine was British, Spanish or French. I lean towards the latter). One of the right-hand pages had a 2 x 3 grid of 6 photos of the cars that debuted there. Only 2 still stick in my mind, though: the 3rd-gen Toyota Crown and the Century, in black as it always is. I remember intensely disliking it, a stodgy, large car that reminded me of a bad enlarged copy of a Studebaker Lark.

Now, the 3rd-generation comes out, and I find myself totally loving it. It's still unmistakably a Toyota Century, but subtly modernized in all the right places and in such details as the headlight contours, grille proportions, a greenhouse that is ever so slightly more raked and moved back, and lower side chrome trim that looks to have a bit more of a modern matte finish and is not as tall as it used to be.

23 years later, when I was 11, I was buying car magazines like you (and everyone was looking at me like... what is this kid doing with car mags?) and I remember seeing an article about Lexus LS... It was in German Autobild. They basically said it was a cheap copy of German cars, cant drive straight let alone in curves, like a barge. It reinforced my opinion of how cheaply and poorly done are Japanese vehicles when compared to beloved German vehicles.

How times have changed.

Joaquin Ruhi

Funny how time can change your perspectives.

For some reason, I still vividly recall the debut of the original Toyota Century in 1967. (I guess it was one of those Random Access Memories Daft Punk sang about a few years ago). I was just 11 years old and had been living in Spain for just a few months. Even as a child, I was as much an incurable car geek as I am now. I recall buying a magazine with coverage of the 1967 Tokyo Motor Show (though I don't recall if said magazine was British, Spanish or French. I lean towards the latter). One of the right-hand pages had a 2 x 3 grid of 6 photos of the cars that debuted there. Only 2 still stick in my mind, though: the 3rd-gen Toyota Crown and the Century, in black as it always is. I remember intensely disliking it, a stodgy, large car that reminded me of a bad enlarged copy of a Studebaker Lark.

Now, the 3rd-generation comes out, and I find myself totally loving it. It's still unmistakably a Toyota Century, but subtly modernized in all the right places and in such details as the headlight contours, grille proportions, a greenhouse that is ever so slightly more raked and moved back, and lower side chrome trim that looks to have a bit more of a modern matte finish and is not as tall as it used to be.

23 years later, when I was 11, I was buying car magazines like you (and everyone was looking at me like... what is this kid doing with car mags?) and I remember seeing an article about Lexus LS... It was in German Autobild. They basically said it was a cheap copy of German cars, cant drive straight let alone in curves, like a barge. It reinforced my opinion of how cheaply and poorly done are Japanese vehicles when compared to beloved German vehicles.

How times have changed.

Joaquin Ruhi

Funny how time can change your perspectives.

For some reason, I still vividly recall the debut of the original Toyota Century in 1967. (I guess it was one of those Random Access Memories Daft Punk sang about a few years ago). I was just 11 years old and had been living in Spain for just a few months. Even as a child, I was as much an incurable car geek as I am now. I recall buying a magazine with coverage of the 1967 Tokyo Motor Show (though I don't recall if said magazine was British, Spanish or French. I lean towards the latter). One of the right-hand pages had a 2 x 3 grid of 6 photos of the cars that debuted there. Only 2 still stick in my mind, though: the 3rd-gen Toyota Crown and the Century, in black as it always is. I remember intensely disliking it, a stodgy, large car that reminded me of a bad enlarged copy of a Studebaker Lark.

Now, the 3rd-generation comes out, and I find myself totally loving it. It's still unmistakably a Toyota Century, but subtly modernized in all the right places and in such details as the headlight contours, grille proportions, a greenhouse that is ever so slightly more raked and moved back, and lower side chrome trim that looks to have a bit more of a modern matte finish and is not as tall as it used to be.

23 years later, when I was 11, I was buying car magazines like you (and everyone was looking at me like... what is this kid doing with car mags?) and I remember seeing an article about Lexus LS... It was in German Autobild. They basically said it was a cheap copy of German cars, cant drive straight let alone in curves, like a barge. It reinforced my opinion of how cheaply and poorly done are Japanese vehicles when compared to beloved German vehicles.

How times have changed.

Joaquin Ruhi

Funny how time can change your perspectives.

For some reason, I still vividly recall the debut of the original Toyota Century in 1967. (I guess it was one of those Random Access Memories Daft Punk sang about a few years ago). I was just 11 years old and had been living in Spain for just a few months. Even as a child, I was as much an incurable car geek as I am now. I recall buying a magazine with coverage of the 1967 Tokyo Motor Show (though I don't recall if said magazine was British, Spanish or French. I lean towards the latter). One of the right-hand pages had a 2 x 3 grid of 6 photos of the cars that debuted there. Only 2 still stick in my mind, though: the 3rd-gen Toyota Crown and the Century, in black as it always is. I remember intensely disliking it, a stodgy, large car that reminded me of a bad enlarged copy of a Studebaker Lark.

Now, the 3rd-generation comes out, and I find myself totally loving it. It's still unmistakably a Toyota Century, but subtly modernized in all the right places and in such details as the headlight contours, grille proportions, a greenhouse that is ever so slightly more raked and moved back, and lower side chrome trim that looks to have a bit more of a modern matte finish and is not as tall as it used to be.

23 years later, when I was 11, I was buying car magazines like you (and everyone was looking at me like... what is this kid doing with car mags?) and I remember seeing an article about Lexus LS... It was in German Autobild. They basically said it was a cheap copy of German cars, cant drive straight let alone in curves, like a barge. It reinforced my opinion of how cheaply and poorly done are Japanese vehicles when compared to beloved German vehicles.

How times have changed.

mmcartalk

Despite the lack of a "coolness" factor, today's designers tend to forget now much sense those retro-sedan designs made, with the square, three-box styling.....high rooflines for headroom and ease of entry/exit, roomy cargo areas, large and easy-to-accomodate trunk lids, good outward visibility from the drivers' seat, easy cleaning of inside windows, and more room under the hood to reach and service the engine and its components. Today's Humpback-Whale, Jelly-Bean-shape, 4-door coupe-wanna-bes may look sleek, but with that slick look also comes a number of trade-offs.

Something I learned all over again the other day when my loaner (the LS turned 25,000) was an NX200T. I swear they didn't even try to make it so it was drivable by people over 5'9" or so.

mmcartalk

Despite the lack of a "coolness" factor, today's designers tend to forget now much sense those retro-sedan designs made, with the square, three-box styling.....high rooflines for headroom and ease of entry/exit, roomy cargo areas, large and easy-to-accomodate trunk lids, good outward visibility from the drivers' seat, easy cleaning of inside windows, and more room under the hood to reach and service the engine and its components. Today's Humpback-Whale, Jelly-Bean-shape, 4-door coupe-wanna-bes may look sleek, but with that slick look also comes a number of trade-offs.

Something I learned all over again the other day when my loaner (the LS turned 25,000) was an NX200T. I swear they didn't even try to make it so it was drivable by people over 5'9" or so.

mmcartalk

Despite the lack of a "coolness" factor, today's designers tend to forget now much sense those retro-sedan designs made, with the square, three-box styling.....high rooflines for headroom and ease of entry/exit, roomy cargo areas, large and easy-to-accomodate trunk lids, good outward visibility from the drivers' seat, easy cleaning of inside windows, and more room under the hood to reach and service the engine and its components. Today's Humpback-Whale, Jelly-Bean-shape, 4-door coupe-wanna-bes may look sleek, but with that slick look also comes a number of trade-offs.

Something I learned all over again the other day when my loaner (the LS turned 25,000) was an NX200T. I swear they didn't even try to make it so it was drivable by people over 5'9" or so.

mmcartalk

Despite the lack of a "coolness" factor, today's designers tend to forget now much sense those retro-sedan designs made, with the square, three-box styling.....high rooflines for headroom and ease of entry/exit, roomy cargo areas, large and easy-to-accomodate trunk lids, good outward visibility from the drivers' seat, easy cleaning of inside windows, and more room under the hood to reach and service the engine and its components. Today's Humpback-Whale, Jelly-Bean-shape, 4-door coupe-wanna-bes may look sleek, but with that slick look also comes a number of trade-offs.

Something I learned all over again the other day when my loaner (the LS turned 25,000) was an NX200T. I swear they didn't even try to make it so it was drivable by people over 5'9" or so.

Ian Schmidt

Something I learned all over again the other day when my loaner (the LS turned 25,000) was an NX200T. I swear they didn't even try to make it so it was drivable by people over 5'9" or so.

One can always adjust the front seat-cushion all the way down, or add some rake to the seat-back (I often do that if and when I'm reviewing low-topped vehicles). But then, with high beltlines, it can make you feel like you are sitting in a bathtub, and too much rake in the seatback can make the belt/harnesss ineffective in a crash or sudden stop.

Ian Schmidt

Something I learned all over again the other day when my loaner (the LS turned 25,000) was an NX200T. I swear they didn't even try to make it so it was drivable by people over 5'9" or so.

One can always adjust the front seat-cushion all the way down, or add some rake to the seat-back (I often do that if and when I'm reviewing low-topped vehicles). But then, with high beltlines, it can make you feel like you are sitting in a bathtub, and too much rake in the seatback can make the belt/harnesss ineffective in a crash or sudden stop.

Ian Schmidt

Something I learned all over again the other day when my loaner (the LS turned 25,000) was an NX200T. I swear they didn't even try to make it so it was drivable by people over 5'9" or so.

One can always adjust the front seat-cushion all the way down, or add some rake to the seat-back (I often do that if and when I'm reviewing low-topped vehicles). But then, with high beltlines, it can make you feel like you are sitting in a bathtub, and too much rake in the seatback can make the belt/harnesss ineffective in a crash or sudden stop.

Ian Schmidt

Something I learned all over again the other day when my loaner (the LS turned 25,000) was an NX200T. I swear they didn't even try to make it so it was drivable by people over 5'9" or so.

One can always adjust the front seat-cushion all the way down, or add some rake to the seat-back (I often do that if and when I'm reviewing low-topped vehicles). But then, with high beltlines, it can make you feel like you are sitting in a bathtub, and too much rake in the seatback can make the belt/harnesss ineffective in a crash or sudden stop.