Would the Toyota Century Sell in the States?

For a car that's the crème de la crème for Toyota, we thought it would fit just fine in the line up as a Lexus. I mean, why should Toyota of Japan have all the luxurious fun?

By Thomas Mabson - October 6, 2017

 

Doubtful IMO. I don't see many people wanting to drop $100k on a Toyota here in the States (exceptions would be the Land Cruiser of course which I'm surprised they keep around when the LX outsells it). They'd probably have to rebrand it as a Lexus, and then that would take away from the LS. It would be neat though.

Now the new Crown concept would be nice to have over here.

 

No, it's not chic enough to be trendy (ex. Genesis G80). And Crossovers have too much of a foothold now. The Century would be a niche product here in the States.

 

Give it bigger wheels, lift the suspension and voila you got Century suv.

 

Non-leather interior in a luxury car = LOL

 

I can't believe there are two current threads about the Crown.

It would not sell. It would be worse the Volkswagen Phaeton disaster.

 

Yes, it would, for two reasons. First, it would appeal to those who think that a sedan should actually LOOK like one......not a four-door coupe. With that, of course, goes space-efficiency, easy entry/exit, and outward visibility. Sedans like that are almost extinct in the American market today, so there is virtually no competition. Second, not everyone is sold on the need for leather....cloth (or, in this case, wool) has a number of advantages, particularly in resistance to heat or cold, though today's heated/cooled seats have helped make leather more tolerable.


I don't agree with the LOL part, for reasons I have just explained.



Of course, however, one cannot deny the fact that this sedan would probably have just as hard a time against SUVs as any other one.......buyers in the American market have simply become addicted to today's SUV's features.

 

Phaeton was heavy so it felt under powered and was one of the most unreliable cars on the market which led to its lack of interest and failure.

I think the Crown would find a small market, buyers who want something above a LS, possibly the only reliable 12 cylinder sedan(before they are getting rid of it). For someone looking for a Bentley or Rolls Royce type experience for 100K that is reliable and holds its value better it could find a market. It would have to be sold as a Lexus and the interior likely upgraded for American tastes.

 

Agreed it would be a very unique market that it appeals to. I like it for what it is even though the V12 is underpowered but I bet it's very smooth and matches the chassis very well, too bad it's being discontinued.

 

Century won’t, but Crown will, but the recent Crown models are becoming bizarre as well.

 

I think it could work, albeit in limited numbers and for a price around $50k. It's appearance is proper, old-fashioned, and non-offending, in the way a the old Lincoln Conti was. This could make for a perfect stretch limo too. Name it "Crown-something" and a few old money men living in Brentwood or Bell Air would probably go for it.

 

I hate leather seats. I would take alcantara seats any day over leather.

 

no.

it's too plain. It would sell 100 per year.

i remember reading that alcantara is actually a cheaper material, cheaper to produce, with an exorbitant price compared to leather. Isn't that like putting crap in your car?

 

Alcantara is nice to touch, but if used in seats, it would look ‘dirty’, as any touch will change the ‘wave’ in that area. I have full alcantara headliner, the uneven looks drives me crazy sometimes.

 

Why, just because it's cheaper than leather? I care about functionality, not price. Cheap leather (like that found in most cars, and even stuff like sofas into the midrange price levels) is actually a horrifically lousy seating material. Leather may look better, but I'm also not looking at my seats when I'm driving.

Try it before you dismiss it.


Alcantara can be brushed out easily. Believe me when I say the stains and wear on my '08 IS-F white leather seat bolsters bothered me a lot more than random fiber patterns in the alcantara middle portion of the seat, and I've documented on this forum how much I cleaned/detailed/treated that leather.