Introducing a New Flagship Toyota - the 2018 Century

Earlier this year, Rare Rides memorialized the end of the long-lived V-12 Toyota Century. At that time there was no word on a new Century replacement, so Toyota was left with a Lexus vehicle as flagship — the quite flashy LS600hL.

However, the flagship title changed hands yesterday after a new Century dawned.

The conservative and exceedingly formal sedan presented here will debut at the end of October at the Tokyo Motor Show. With this new model, the Century enters its third generation — impressive, considering the first one debuted back in 1967.

Lines are decidedly more modern and flashy than with the prior design, which was in production from 1997 through part of 2016. The rear doors are longer, to assist the most dignified of customers in alighting from the vehicle gracefully. A raised roof allows passengers to keep the crown jewels atop their heads during a trip. Still, noticeably absent from this new model is some of the quiet understatement of its predecessor. It’s more in your face, and from this angle bears a much closer resemblance to the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

It’s doubtful the resemblance was accidental.

The rear end treatment pays homage to the last generation Century, albeit in a much more heavy-handed manner. The blocky shapes and black trim between large red lamps almost puts one in mind of an old American car like a Grand Marquis. The vehicle is now larger than before, increasing in length from 207 inches to 210. It’s also two inches wider, and about an inch taller than before. But the exterior isn’t the only new feature of this new Century.

The interior is completely new for 2018. Considerably more modern than the last generation, curved shapes across the dash replace the upright angles of the past, and everything is LED. There are two different types of wood present, seemingly some gloss veneer from an early 2000s Lexus, as well as darker and more natural wood from today’s Volvo collection. I’m not sure.

Rear passengers relax in comfort and luxury, as would be expected. The bench seat is no more. Two executive chairs now occupy the rear area, separated by a wide console. Note how even the interior door handles receive their own modern design.

Underneath all this luxury, one will not find the V12 engine that was unique to the Century. Displacement remains at five liters, but now there are only eight cylinders. There’s also a hybrid motor in there — all of this a variation of the UR engine line found in V8 Lexus vehicles since the middle of the 2000s.

None of these trappings will be available to the American customer, who will have to settle for a machine-built Lexus. Throughout its history, the hand-crafted Century was only available on the Japanese market, with very few exported to other countries. Eager buyers will receive their deliveries sometime in mid-2018, with prices easily topping $100,000.

[Images: Toyota]