Top Gear Takes the Toyota Century Out for a Drive

Top Gear in Japan

Top Gear's Rowan Horncastle was recently treated to the luxury of experiencing Toyota's coveted Japan-only halo car. Alongside photographer Mark Riccioni, Horncastle journeyed to Tokyo and was greeted by Toyota executives before being set free on Japanese roads in the newest Century. He wrote about his time with the Toyota luxury car in detail.

Photos: Top Gear

Long Drive in the Century

Horncastle took the Century for a long drive that included everything from twisty, quiet back roads all the way to the headache-inducing, ultra-busy streets of Tokyo. And it seemed like, based on Horncastle's description of his experience, the Century felt somewhat out of place in almost every setting.

>>Join the conversation about the Toyota Century right here in the Club Lexus forum.

Getting Used to Japanese Luxury

The two-man Top Gear crew was immediately impressed by the level of grandeur that the Century was presented to them with, at Toyota's "subterranean lair." Horncastle was evidently fascinated by the traditions of Japanese culture, especially the bowing! Having retrieved the Century for the test drive, he wanted to head out of town to acclimate himself with the car.

>>Join the conversation about the Toyota Century right here in the Club Lexus forum.

Old School

The review abundantly highlights the old-school nature of the Toyota Century. Horncastle sees it as symbolic to the culture of Japan. While automobile manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, Bentley, and Roll Royce have been pioneering with the latest technology for their top-tier luxury vehicles, the Century has been employing more or less the same formula since the '60s.

>>Join the conversation about the Toyota Century right here in the Club Lexus forum.

Underwhelming Fit and FInish

With no absence of humor, Horncastle touches on what he feels to be underwhelming production quality, with the Century sharing parts with mass produces Toyota products like the Prius. Not the best look for a near-$200,000 car. Their trip to the winding back roads outside the city also pushed the Toyota outside of its comfort zone in terms of handling. The limo's super-soft air suspension was doing very well in absorbing uneven road surfaces but producing massive body roll in tight turns.

>>Join the conversation about the Toyota Century right here in the Club Lexus forum.

Smooth Ride

With the new Century, Toyota has done away with the V12 motor, switching the powertrain to a 5.0-liter V8 assisted by a pair of electric motors. The comforting quiet ride of the Century is further enhanced when driving solely with electric motors. But the V8 taking over doesn't add much noise to the ride either. The Century experience is also accompanied by some very old-school luxury features such as curtains and wool seats.

>>Join the conversation about the Toyota Century right here in the Club Lexus forum.

In the City

Within the confines of Tokyo and among a sea of Kei cars and pedestrians, the massive luxury sedan feels like a foreign object. Taking the car to the underbelly of the city, through the red-light district, the Century starts to feel more at home, ironically. As Horncastle is quick to mention, the vehicle is reserved for Japan's royal family, the prime minister, and one of the world's largest organized crime families, the Yakuza.

>>Join the conversation about the Toyota Century right here in the Club Lexus forum.

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