2019 Toyota Century
01-01-19, 11:06 AM
#1
2019 Toyota Century
The top of the line, japan-only Toyota Century was recently reviewed on roadshow.com. Toyota's comment on the choice of engine was interesting and may sound familiar to those on this forum:
"Why didn't the Century make use of the latest LS' turbo V6 hybrid setup? The V8's extra smoothness and sound characteristics were deemed more befitting a car of the Century's station."
Uh-huh!
"Why didn't the Century make use of the latest LS' turbo V6 hybrid setup? The V8's extra smoothness and sound characteristics were deemed more befitting a car of the Century's station."
Uh-huh!
01-01-19, 02:07 PM
#2
Lexus Champion
W
It seems that the prestige of the flagship Lexus brand in the Japanese domestic market is less than the flagship Toyota brand. This is not surprising, as I believe the Lexus brand was created for other outside markets, particularly the USA, and I suspect that Toyota’s perception of what we want in a flagship vehicle is different from what the Japanese want.
ETA: It apoears that the Century is in a badge/brand/class of its own:
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2...-drive-review/
The top of the line, japan-only Toyota Century was recently reviewed on roadshow.com. Toyota's comment on the choice of engine was interesting and may sound familiar to those on this forum:
"Why didn't the Century make use of the latest LS' turbo V6 hybrid setup? The V8's extra smoothness and sound characteristics were deemed more befitting a car of the Century's station."
Uh-huh!
"Why didn't the Century make use of the latest LS' turbo V6 hybrid setup? The V8's extra smoothness and sound characteristics were deemed more befitting a car of the Century's station."
Uh-huh!
ETA: It apoears that the Century is in a badge/brand/class of its own:
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2...-drive-review/
Last edited by Gbp; 01-01-19 at 02:29 PM.
01-01-19, 04:15 PM
#3
Our LS' wish they were Centuries!
I just want to ride in a v12 model. I know I'll never gray import one.
The Century isnt it's own class,but the class it's in,all players can be counted on one hand,and have at least a finger left.
Toyota Century,Rolls Royce Phantom,Bentley Ghost,maybe Mercedes Maybach. There probably one I'm forgetting.
They dont promote this car,btw. People might review it,but it gets by on reputation alone. No print,no commercial. Govt big shots,yakuza bosses,and successful businessmen are completely cool with paying 100k+ for a hand built Toyota and I dont blame them.
I "settled" for an LS460 because I cant have a Century
The Century isnt it's own class,but the class it's in,all players can be counted on one hand,and have at least a finger left.
Toyota Century,Rolls Royce Phantom,Bentley Ghost,maybe Mercedes Maybach. There probably one I'm forgetting.
They dont promote this car,btw. People might review it,but it gets by on reputation alone. No print,no commercial. Govt big shots,yakuza bosses,and successful businessmen are completely cool with paying 100k+ for a hand built Toyota and I dont blame them.
I "settled" for an LS460 because I cant have a Century
01-01-19, 07:07 PM
#4
Lexus Champion
I just want to ride in a v12 model. I know I'll never gray import one.
The Century isnt it's own class,but the class it's in,all players can be counted on one hand,and have at least a finger left.
Toyota Century,Rolls Royce Phantom,Bentley Ghost,maybe Mercedes Maybach. There probably one I'm forgetting.
They dont promote this car,btw. People might review it,but it gets by on reputation alone. No print,no commercial. Govt big shots,yakuza bosses,and successful businessmen are completely cool with paying 100k+ for a hand built Toyota and I dont blame them.
I "settled" for an LS460 because I cant have a Century
The Century isnt it's own class,but the class it's in,all players can be counted on one hand,and have at least a finger left.
Toyota Century,Rolls Royce Phantom,Bentley Ghost,maybe Mercedes Maybach. There probably one I'm forgetting.
They dont promote this car,btw. People might review it,but it gets by on reputation alone. No print,no commercial. Govt big shots,yakuza bosses,and successful businessmen are completely cool with paying 100k+ for a hand built Toyota and I dont blame them.
I "settled" for an LS460 because I cant have a Century
01-02-19, 05:57 AM
#5
Instructor
I'm happy that the Century uses essentially the same engine I have in my 2010 LS600hL (5.0L w/hybrid motors). That engine does deliver some amazing power with extreme smoothness, all nearly silently. With the CVT, it's often running at 1200 RPMs at 75 mph on the interstate. I'd love to drive the Century (or be driven in one) to see just how much smoother/quieter it is than my LS600hL...
01-02-19, 07:47 AM
#6
Racer
Yees! the styling is stuck in the dark ages on purpose. I'm surprised it doesn't have a column shifter 
Still holding out on Lexus putting the 5.0 V8 in the LS500. Still not crazy about the front styling though either
Still holding out on Lexus putting the 5.0 V8 in the LS500. Still not crazy about the front styling though either
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01-03-19, 10:57 AM
#8
Having just moved from a 2017 LS LWB to a 2018 LS500 they both feel about the same as far as smoothness goes. The new twin turbo V6 is actually quite good. However when you go to accelerate from a stop that's when you hear the growl of the V6. I never heard much noise from my old V8, except for the direct injectors.
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01-03-19, 04:26 PM
#9
Lexus Champion
Having just moved from a 2017 LS LWB to a 2018 LS500 they both feel about the same as far as smoothness goes. The new twin turbo V6 is actually quite good. However when you go to accelerate from a stop that's when you hear the growl of the V6. I never heard much noise from my old V8, except for the direct injectors.
I'm glad you enjoy it.
01-04-19, 07:00 AM
#10
I went into this purchase with a lot of trepidation. This is my seventh LS. However after taking the car on a test drive and using it for a few hours I realized that engine noise and overall road noise weren't big issues. There is some amount of road noise when you drive on rough pavement, but on smooth pavement you barely hear any road noise. My last three cars were LS 460 L's so I'm quite familiar with how they ride and sound. Between all the sound proofing and active noise cancellation you don't hear much noise in the cabin, unless you are accelerating strongly from a dead stop.
The car has 600 miles on it. One big thing though - mileage is about 16 MPG - about the same as my last LS 460 L. So even though they went to a V6, I am not seeing better mileage with my normal driving around town.
The car has 600 miles on it. One big thing though - mileage is about 16 MPG - about the same as my last LS 460 L. So even though they went to a V6, I am not seeing better mileage with my normal driving around town.
01-06-19, 02:14 PM
#11
Lexus Test Driver
I went into this purchase with a lot of trepidation. This is my seventh LS. However after taking the car on a test drive and using it for a few hours I realized that engine noise and overall road noise weren't big issues. There is some amount of road noise when you drive on rough pavement, but on smooth pavement you barely hear any road noise. My last three cars were LS 460 L's so I'm quite familiar with how they ride and sound. Between all the sound proofing and active noise cancellation you don't hear much noise in the cabin, unless you are accelerating strongly from a dead stop.
The car has 600 miles on it. One big thing though - mileage is about 16 MPG - about the same as my last LS 460 L. So even though they went to a V6, I am not seeing better mileage with my normal driving around town.
The car has 600 miles on it. One big thing though - mileage is about 16 MPG - about the same as my last LS 460 L. So even though they went to a V6, I am not seeing better mileage with my normal driving around town.
I test drove a 19 LS500 on Friday and while I liked it, I didn't "love" it as much as my 2010 specifically due to the acceleration (not as peppy but more refined and gradual?) and ride-on-a-cloud kind of feel. I just promised myself my next car will have adaptive cruise & 360 camera (spoiled by my wife's LX570) and considering the G90 to the LS500.
To the Century, did notice their choice of using the LS600hl powertrain - was wondering if the LS500h would drive quieter but my dealership didn't have one (said they weren't a popular choice in TX)...
01-06-19, 03:42 PM
#12
Sound system - Best was the 2008 SWB, worst the 2012 LWB. 2014 and 2017 LWB were in between the 2008 and 2012. LS500 is similar to the 2017 LS460 L. All of them had the Mark Levinson system.
Ride - All the LWB were about the same. To tell you the truth I never saw a whole lot of difference between comfort mode on the Air ride models (all three LWBs had the Air Suspension) and normal mode.
LS500 ride is about the same as the LS 460 Ls.
Adaptive cruise is standard on LS500. It was an option on the LS 460s (and not very common on the SWB models. They were more common on the LWB models with the air suspension)
Acceleration - about the same. Depends on what mode you are in. If in eco mode then it accelerates gradually. If in Sport or Sport+ it will accelerate rapidly. I tend to NOT floor the pedal, so acceleration rates to 60 MPH don't really matter to me.
Seats: 2014/2017 seats were really good. 2018 has lots of adjustments, but not as comfortable.
Ride - All the LWB were about the same. To tell you the truth I never saw a whole lot of difference between comfort mode on the Air ride models (all three LWBs had the Air Suspension) and normal mode.
LS500 ride is about the same as the LS 460 Ls.
Adaptive cruise is standard on LS500. It was an option on the LS 460s (and not very common on the SWB models. They were more common on the LWB models with the air suspension)
Acceleration - about the same. Depends on what mode you are in. If in eco mode then it accelerates gradually. If in Sport or Sport+ it will accelerate rapidly. I tend to NOT floor the pedal, so acceleration rates to 60 MPH don't really matter to me.
Seats: 2014/2017 seats were really good. 2018 has lots of adjustments, but not as comfortable.
01-06-19, 04:15 PM
#13
Lexus Champion
I'm sure the answer is "yes", but does this V6 provide enough torque to literally not crest 2200 RPM like the old V8s do?
That's my favorite part of the drive, the torque and that hum and purr of the V8. I seriously don't remember the last time my car went above 2500 RPM.
That's my favorite part of the drive, the torque and that hum and purr of the V8. I seriously don't remember the last time my car went above 2500 RPM.
01-07-19, 05:50 PM
#15
Lexus Champion
Lol right, but do you have to reach 3000RPM to just waft around? Wafting is a big part of the luxury experience.
Light to moderate throttle my old V8 will upshift at about 2100 RPM and then stay there as it goes through the gears. It's so smooth and seamless it's almost like there a CVT transmission. (Thank god there's not.)