This V12 Toyota Century is a JDM Limousine Which You Can Finally Buy
The second-gen V12 Toyota Century is no longer restricted by the country’s 25-year embargo.
When it comes to sensible purchases investing $20,000 towards an efficient and affordable EV is quite
an intelligent financial decision. Nevertheless, purchase decisions of gearheads are, more often than not, driven by passion. In a recent Throttle House video, Thomas and James explain what possessed the latter to buy a $20,000 JDM luxury limousine- a V12 Toyota Century.
As our avid readers might already know, the Toyota Century was the only offering from the Japanese automaker that, at the time, was more luxurious than any model in Lexus’ product portfolio. This particular nameplate had the honor of ferrying around many dignitaries, including the emperor of Japan. In the video, James shares his thoughts on his latest purchase.
“This is a vehicle for which Toyota spared no expense because make no mistake, this is the flagship car not just of Toyota but all of Japan,” shares James. He further adds, “It was love at first ride, so I immediately went home and started researching it like you do when you fall in love with the car, and every piece of information I came across felt straight out of an origin story that plays at the start of a kung fu panda movie it was filled with magic mysticism and charm.”
This V12 Toyota Century checks off all hallmarks of a luxury limousine, including luxurious wool and handcrafted interior.
The Toyota Century rides on an air suspension setup and has five mufflers. At the moment United States has a 25-year import embargo. As a result, enthusiasts stateside can finally import the second-gen Toyota Century with its V12 powerplant.
However, American buyers will have to settle for the 4-speed transmission. Still, since Canada only has a 15-year import rule. So, our friends up north can buy Toyota Century with a 6-speed gearbox by opting for any model after 2005. When it was new, Toyota rated the Century’s 5-liter V12 powerplant at 276 HP. But here’s the funny thing. When Toyota exported the Century to markets like the UK, it rated the very same engine (no modifications) at 308 HP.
Even Thomas gave James’ new car his badge of approval. “I think that out of all the cars that we’ve ever tested, I’ve ever driven, this almost tops the range of a vehicle that feels like more care and thought went into it than anything else,” admits Thomas.
Image Source: Throttle House
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