Toyota News: Century for the Next Century, Toyota Launches Century SUV

[G. David Felt]

Toyota has had for the rich and powerful their Century car for the Japanese market only for decades. This chauffeur-driven car was a coveted auto that never was allowed to be exported out of Japan.

Today, Toyota has announced a new chauffeur-driven Century for the 21st century in meeting the demands of a new age, new generation while maintaining the inheritance of the history of what made Century so special. The Century SUV while being a new shape, combines elegance, comfort and functionality as demanded in this new age of automotive excitement.

Toyota streamed the launch making a statement of the following:

• A bold design with an elegant and graceful silhouette that incorporates Japanese aesthetic elements.
• Based on a concept of human-centeredness, the interior space is designed to provide an even more safe and comfortable travel experience for rear-seat passengers as well as the driver.
• The newly developed plug-in hybrid system, which inherits the quietness of the Century and delivers both environmental performance and powerful, exhilarating ride befitting the future of chauffeur-driven vehicles.

The Century chauffeur-driven sedan debuted in 1967 as the premium Toyota executive car. The market had been dominated by U.S. and European luxury brands till now. Embodying the unrivaled spirit of omotenashi, or hospitality, ensuring that the important passengers reached their destinations safely and in comfort. The Century Sedan has been doing this for the last 5 plus decades.

Today's Century SUV is launched with the following outline:

1. Majestic, dignified body design with both horizontal and vertical form features. From the hand engraved phoenix emblem to the mirror finish.
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2. Interior space designed with the concept of being human-centered to realize comfortable travel time. From the fully reclining rear seats to the finely hones audio system and the rear doors that open to a wide 75-degrees allowing for elegant entry and exit of the SUV. Be it that the Century SUV is chauffer-driven or owner-driven, the cockpit is designed for ease of use by all, allowing focus on their driving with minimal distractions.
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3. Powertrain of the 21st century, delivering performance while exceeding expectations. The all new 3.5-liter V6 hybrid system achieves both performance and a quieter drive for both driver and passenger.
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4. The all new Century SUV is built on the Toyota TNGA platform with a high-rigidity body. This allows superior handling along with noise-reduction as well as privacy quietness associated with a chauffer-driven vehicle.
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The 2024 Century SUV has the following specifications:

• Length - 5,205mm or 205 inches
• Width - 1,990 mm or 78 inches
• Height - 1,805 mm or 71 inches
• Wheelbase - 2,950 mm or 116 inches
• Couple distance - 1,220 mm or 48 inches
• Weight - 2,570 kg or 5,666 pounds
• Capacity - 4 persons

While Toyota talks about this as being a Japan only auto, the all-new Century SUV is built on their global TNGA platform, a first for the Century line and it has their global all-new Hybrid system. Both would imply that this auto which is slated for just 30 hand built per month could become a global auto designed to take on the top Luxury SUVs in the world such as the Mercedes EQS SUV, Cadillac Escalade, etc.

Check out all the images and details here in the press release folder of images:

Toyota Century SUV - Cheers & Gears (cheersandgears.com)

Toyota Launching New Century in Japan

View full article

[oldshurst442]

Does Toyota EVER create something in their OWN image when entering a new luxury segment?  Or do they ALWAYS have to copy somebody else's style?

This one looks like a Rolls Royce Cullinan

 

Although I must say, the Toyota looks to be more refined as a design.  But that aint sayin' much.

This is yet another reason as to why I hate Toyota.   They are afraid to use their own design languaga and would rather play it safe with someone else's hit and copy that.  

Toyota has been its best styling wise, when they have been PROUD of their OWN history and presented their OWN style behind the cars they design and sell.   

[Robert Hall]

The front looks like a mix of Lincoln and Genesis styling cues.. 

And this photo got me thinking that the headlights would look great retrofit to a GMT-400 or GMT-800...

Edited September 6, 2023 by Robert Hall

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

Does Toyota EVER create something in their OWN image when entering a new luxury segment?  Or do they ALWAYS have to copy somebody else's style?

This one looks like a Rolls Royce Cullinan

 

Although I must say, the Toyota looks to be more refined as a design.  But that aint sayin' much.

This is yet another reason as to why I hate Toyota.   They are afraid to use their own design languaga and would rather play it safe with someone else's hit and copy that.  

Toyota has been its best styling wise, when they have been PROUD of their OWN history and presented their OWN style behind the cars they design and sell.   

Gotta keep in mind the Japanese culture of everyone fit in, never be negative and blend with the world. As such, they I agree they have copied and made it more refined of other existing products. Toyota has lost there way in some ways and create crazy Predator autos in others.

[smk4565]

$170k for a FWD platform with a hybrid V6.  What a ripoff, at least the old Century Sedan had a V12 and it was something special for the time.  Probably should have made this EV since they are only making 3-400 a year and an EV powertrain would make it seem more futuristic, and smoother and quieter which you want from a chauffeur driving car. I guess the Japanese government and some CEOs will buy it regardless just to be seen in a Japanese car, and not a Mercedes, Bentley or Rolls.

[G. David Felt]

Toyota Century | Functions & Performance | Driving Performance | Toyota Motor Corporation Website

 

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

 

[surreal1272]

12 hours ago, smk4565 said:

$170k for a FWD platform with a hybrid V6

Just popping in to give SMK his daily dose of "being wrong" x2.

One, The Century Sedan is still being sold along side the SUV. This is not a replacement.

Two, it is using the TNGA platform, which is used in FWD, RWD, and AWD applications, from the Prius to the upcoming Land Cruiser. This is not "$170k for a FWD platform".

 

 

[riviera74]

35 minutes ago, surreal1272 said:

One, The Century Sedan is still being sold along side the SUV. This is not a replacement.

Two, it is using the TNGA platform, which is used in FWD, RWD, and AWD applications, from the Prius to the upcoming Land Cruiser. This is not "$170k for a FWD platform".

 

 

I am glad the Century sedan has not been replaced.  Who misses the V12?!  I also did not know that the TNGA platform was FWD and RWD and AWD.

[G. David Felt]

I hope Toyota eventually brings the Century line to the U.S. I think it would do well.

[smk4565]

4 hours ago, David said:

I hope Toyota eventually brings the Century line to the U.S. I think it would do well.

The Lexus LX doesn't do that great here and this is double the money.

[Robert Hall]

With a new front end this could be a good range topper for Lexus above the LX..

[G. David Felt]

On 9/7/2023 at 2:34 PM, smk4565 said:

The Lexus LX doesn't do that great here and this is double the money.

How do you know it did not do that great? What proof do you have cause if you sight low sales numbers then we have to say that Mercedes is failing due to all the models with low sales numbers. Same with BMW, Audi, Cadillac, etc.

[smk4565]

9 hours ago, David said:

How do you know it did not do that great? What proof do you have cause if you sight low sales numbers then we have to say that Mercedes is failing due to all the models with low sales numbers. Same with BMW, Audi, Cadillac, etc.

The LX has traditionally been in the 4-5k units per year in the USA, where as the GLS and Escalade are usually more like 20-30,000 and 40,000 recently for Escalade.  And the GLS has 11,204 first half of of this year, but they also have 5,500 EQS SUV, so if you put them together they are at 16,700 first half of this year compared to 4500 over at Lexus.  

And the Century isn't a Tundra platform and engine, it is a Grand Highlander chassis and engine for $179,000.  It would be like Chevrolet selling a $179,000 Traverse turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. 

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, smk4565 said:

The LX has traditionally been in the 4-5k units per year in the USA, where as the GLS and Escalade are usually more like 20-30,000 and 40,000 recently for Escalade.  And the GLS has 11,204 first half of of this year, but they also have 5,500 EQS SUV, so if you put them together they are at 16,700 first half of this year compared to 4500 over at Lexus.  

And the Century isn't a Tundra platform and engine, it is a Grand Highlander chassis and engine for $179,000.  It would be like Chevrolet selling a $179,000 Traverse turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. 

Thank you for proving my point that you have no real knowledge that the Toyota Century does not make them money. Just like low production custom built autos from any auto maker, there could be various ways that the company shows a profit on these small production auto's.

[surreal1272]

15 hours ago, smk4565 said:

, it is a Grand Highlander chassis and engine for $179,000

See my post about the TNGA platform and stop spreading bull$h!. You are trying to think of this in traditional platform terms without knowing a thing about Toyota's actual platforms. Just skip the fact that they only have to hand build 30 of these a month and make hand over fist money on them. Hell, the sedan has been running on a hybrid V8 system since 2018 but you clearly didn't know that when you made your statement about it still having a V12. Again, just half baked statements by you.

[G. David Felt]

On 9/6/2023 at 7:50 PM, smk4565 said:

$170k for a FWD platform with a hybrid V6.  What a ripoff, at least the old Century Sedan had a V12 and it was something special for the time.  Probably should have made this EV since they are only making 3-400 a year and an EV powertrain would make it seem more futuristic, and smoother and quieter which you want from a chauffeur driving car. I guess the Japanese government and some CEOs will buy it regardless just to be seen in a Japanese car, and not a Mercedes, Bentley or Rolls.

Since like 99.9% of your posts you never actually give facts or website to verify your information, lets take a closer look at the Century.

Century | Vehicle Gallery | Toyota Brand | Mobility | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website

Here is the actual press release of the all new 2018 Century Sedan, the first redesigned Century in 21 years.

Toyota Rolls Out First Fully Redesigned Century in 21 Years | Toyota | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website

At this time, Toyota projected only 50 hand built units a month would make them money in a very small market as they dropped the V12 last available in the 2017 model year. As @surreal1272 clearly stated, a V8 Hybrid system started in the 2018 and went through the 2023 model year.

Starting with the 2024 model year, both the Century Sedan and Century SUV will move to the V6 hybrid system. Quote: "Series Parallel Plug-in Hybrid System (2GR-FXS 3.5-liter V6 engine)"

Official Century SUV webpage for building and pricing out your Uber Luxury SUV.

Toyota Century | Toyota Motor Corporation Website

Official Century Sedan webpage for building and pricing out your Uber Luxury Sedan

Toyota Century | Toyota Motor Corporation Website

I do like it in the Red Mica

Toyota Century | Price & Grade | Toyota Motor Corporation Website

The Century has a certain elegance to it that is lost by the German brands in the last couple of Decades and Cadillac has recouped it along with Genesis.

[smk4565]

I find it hard to believe the make a lot of profit on anything they are selling 30-50 units a month of.  Maybe on an individual car they can make $10,000 with that high price, but on 30 units, that isn't as good as selling 100,000 Corollas and making $50 profit on each one.

And no one outside Japan would buy this, because they aren't buying a Toyota over a Bentley or Mercedes-Maybach or a Rolls or anything like that.  Lexus has been around 30 years and never been able to really get above $100k price with the exception of the LF-A and if you option up an LC or LK, yes you can get them over $100k, but Lexus isn't out there with cars costing $200,000+ because even they couldn't sell them.  

[surreal1272]

1 hour ago, smk4565 said:

I find it hard to believe the make a lot of profit on anything they are selling 30-50 units a month of.  Maybe on an individual car they can make $10,000 with that high price, but on 30 units, that isn't as good as selling 100,000 Corollas and making $50 profit on each one.

Yeah, because it's always a good business case to NOT make money on your product FFS. They don't have to sell high numbers or anywhere else other than Japan, which is how it is always been. They will not move this out of Japan nor change it's hand built nature (hence the only 30 a month and hand over fist money behind). Just stop the hypothetical BS. The article can speculate all it wants but that doesn't make it so. They have ZERO reason to change the current business model behind the Century lineup and if you actually read about their history and relevance in Japan, you would understand why it's that way and will most likely stay that way. Until then, save the speciation, the misinformation, and just otherwise outright wrong statements, like you have peddled on this thread. It's just embarrassing. 

[G. David Felt]

23 hours ago, smk4565 said:

I find it hard to believe the make a lot of profit on anything they are selling 30-50 units a month of.  Maybe on an individual car they can make $10,000 with that high price, but on 30 units, that isn't as good as selling 100,000 Corollas and making $50 profit on each one.

And no one outside Japan would buy this, because they aren't buying a Toyota over a Bentley or Mercedes-Maybach or a Rolls or anything like that.  Lexus has been around 30 years and never been able to really get above $100k price with the exception of the LF-A and if you option up an LC or LK, yes you can get them over $100k, but Lexus isn't out there with cars costing $200,000+ because even they couldn't sell them.  

Let's look at your math in this statement.

Century @ 30 sold per month, @ $10,000 profit = $300,000 a month or $3.6 million a year for a niche product sold in Japan to Politicians, Executives and families in the 1% bracket that want a hand built Japanese product, not something that is imported from Germany.

Corolla @ 100,000 sold per month, @ $50 profit = $5 million or $60 million a year for a generic appliance that requires considerable marketing, shipping to markets, etc. 

Yes, they make more initial profit on the Corolla, but they have costs that eat into that profit to sell this auto around the world.

You have stated that Mercedes makes the best in the world and people who have money want to buy the best. You are ignoring those that want a product from their home country and have no problem paying for it.

Same here there are those of us that will pay extra for American Made niche products of quality.

Many Japanese buy these Century autos for their status.

End of line!!!

[smk4565]

1 hour ago, David said:

Let's look at your math in this statement.

Century @ 30 sold per month, @ $10,000 profit = $300,000 a month or $3.6 million a year for a niche product sold in Japan to Politicians, Executives and families in the 1% bracket that want a hand built Japanese product, not something that is imported from Germany.

Corolla @ 100,000 sold per month, @ $50 profit = $5 million or $60 million a year for a generic appliance that requires considerable marketing, shipping to markets, etc. 

Yes, they make more initial profit on the Corolla, but they have costs that eat into that profit to sell this auto around the world.

You have stated that Mercedes makes the best in the world and people who have money want to buy the best. You are ignoring those that want a product from their home country and have no problem paying for it.

Same here there are those of us that will pay extra for American Made niche products of quality.

Many Japanese buy these Century autos for their status.

End of line!!!

I am sure they make more than $50 per Corolla, but I was just using that as an example.  Heck they might even lose money on the Century at $179k, but I assume they wouldn't sell it if they lost money on it.

I get that people in Japan, or the Japanese government want a Japanese car, and that is why this exists.  My point is no one outside of Japan wants a $179,000 Toyota SUV. 

[G. David Felt]

8 hours ago, smk4565 said:

I am sure they make more than $50 per Corolla, but I was just using that as an example.  Heck they might even lose money on the Century at $179k, but I assume they wouldn't sell it if they lost money on it.

I get that people in Japan, or the Japanese government want a Japanese car, and that is why this exists.  My point is no one outside of Japan wants a $179,000 Toyota SUV. 

That is a huge assumption that a hand-built luxury SUV from Toyota would not sell. As is proof with the Lexus Line, the Century SUV & Sedan could very well sell under the Lexus line in many markets and in some it would sell just fine as a Toyota.

I know for a fact that in Mongolia, having a Toyota pretty much means you have achieved the 1% crowd and Toyota is the product to strive for, not Mercedes, Not BMW, Not Audi, but Toyota. A few other products are like this, Jeep is one of those products that in Mongolia people with disposable income want a Jeep over Mercedes. This I know first hand due to my close Mongolian friends and having been there. It is crazy, but Toyota is what everyone strives for and even here in the U.S. Mongolians only want Toyota.

The Century will never go away from being a hand built ubber luxury auto line due to the Japanese Royal Family only gets driven around in Century auto's much like how our president only gets driven around in a custom Cadillac.

[surreal1272]

On 9/13/2023 at 7:08 PM, smk4565 said:

I get that people in Japan, or the Japanese government want a Japanese car, and that is why this exists.  My point is no one outside of Japan wants a $179,000 Toyota SUV. 

Your "point" was pointless as you have been told repeatedly, that it would never be sold outside of Japan (on top of being corrected over all your mistakes regarding the Century in the first damn place). Stop creating issues where none exist. FFS.