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Some cars simply embody their builders, and the Toyota Century is such a vehicle. The exclusive Japanese luxury sedan has become a mainstay of executive transport since its inception in 1967, a singularly unique piece for very specific local tastes. Now, Toyota has given the Century its first complete overhaul in over two decades.
Many outside Japan will not even have heard of the century. The car was created to mark the 100th anniversary of Toyota Group founder Sakichi Toyoda, a Japanese vision of what chauffeured luxury should look like. Now, in his third generation, he has lost nothing of his unique charm.
Indeed, looking at the new century, you could be forgiven for confusing it with a much older car. There is an unusual mix of familiar and new, especially if you look at the car with eyes more used to cars on sale in North America. A bit of Lincoln in places, and some Bentley too. Some of the coolness of Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit era, maybe.
In reality, it's not one of those things: it's just what Toyota knows how to play well in Japan. On the outside, the surfacing is not limited to the first glance: the pillar C was made more vertical, for example, to emphasize the fact that the Century is a car to drive and not to drive . A pair of skillfully polished angular lines on the side work together to give the effect of a more prominent sculpture running along the car.
It's Toyota's obsession with the traditional details, and the opposite of the efficiency of the manufacturer's regular production line. The emblem of the century phoenix, for example, is engraved by a single craftsman over a six-week period, and mounted on a crown-patterned grille. "Eternal Black", the new finish for the sedan, is a depth of seven layers. Toyota has developed a transparent coating with black paint that gives the appearance of black lacquer of traditional furniture. Before this can be applied, the body of the car is sanded wet three times.
Inside, the smallest details have been underlined. The wheelbase has increased by just over 2.5 inches compared to the outgoing century, all dedicated to the rear passenger saloon. In the meantime, the skid plate and floor were dropped: only about half an inch, but enough so that the floor mats were completely flat on the back of the floor.
The ceiling has been raised at the back, for the extra room, and there are two seats divided by a fixed central armrest. This has a 7-inch touch screen that controls the audio system – 12 channels and 20 speakers – with HVAC, massage seats in the reclining left rear seat, and curtains.
This is not all about technology, though; there is also the Japanese belief system woven throughout the century. The roof liner has an inclined lattice pattern, for example, using manji symbol to represent "perpetual prosperity for the home and longevity."
Rather appropriate for the automaker which is arguably the most associated with hybridization, under the hood there is a gas-electric powertrain. A 5.0-liter V8 is paired with an electric battery system for a total of 425 horsepower. Toyota is doing all this for a quiet and smooth ride: air suspension and new tires, suspension arms and other parts focused on reducing vibration and improving comfort. An active noise control system helps prevent engine noise from disturbing anyone inside.
Then there is security. This means pre-collision systems, lane departure alerts, adaptive cruise control and automatic headlights that use 24 LEDs on the side. If this is not enough, Century can automatically summon air and land ambulances, based on embedded sensors that determine the severity of the crash.
At first glance, you might be forgiven for struggling to see why someone could go for a century compared to, say, a Mercedes S-Class or a BMW 7 Series. Indeed, Toyota is only waiting for to sell about fifty cars each month, and will only offer it in Japan. There it will cost the equivalent of about $ 178,000. Strange, then, with foreign eyes, but in a country where national pride is so important, the new century is likely to be a success.
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