Toyota Century Gets One-of-a-kind Convertible
A specially-requested parade car has been developed to transport Japan's new emperor to his coronation ceremony. Naturally, Toyota's most exclusive and carefully crafted creation, the Toyota Century, was the perfect vehicle for the job. With all the bells and whistles the Century is known to hold, and now without a roof, it's hard not to envy the people who will get to see this beauty in person.
The Royal Convertible
The Toyota Century has always been a mystical unicorn of the automotive world. As the brand's global flagship slotted even above the Lexus LS, the luxury chauffeur exudes a strong sense of class and authority. Unfortunately, its availability has been limited to the Japanese market. Furthering its exclusivity and desirableness for the rest of us, a special edition convertible version of the Toyota Century was recently commissioned to be used at the coronation ceremony for the 126th Emperor of Japan.
Photos courtesy of Japanese Nostalgic Car
Original Japanese Limo
Toyota launched the Century in the late '60s. The Century quickly became Toyota's coequal to the era's Cadillac de Villes, Lincoln Town Cars, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and even Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit. The careful design and meticulous craftsmanship of each Century example created by Toyota embodies a through and through high-level of sophistication that's come to be expected of Japan's elite clientele, including the Imperial Family. A specially crafted Century Royal became the official state car for the Emperor of Japan back in 2006.
>>Join the conversation about the new Century Convertible for the emperor right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
Royal Requirements
Based on a rough translation of a press release from the Japanese government, there were several expectations for this parade transport: it needed to be available domestically, must be large and designed for the emperor and empress to be clearly visible, and it must have a high-level of safety and performance in terms of power and efficiency. The rear seats sit 4cm higher than the stock Century with the seatbacks fixed at 25 degrees for unobstructed views of its royal passengers. The drop-top wears a gold imperial seal on the front bumper in instead of a license plate.
>>Join the conversation about the new Century Convertible for the emperor right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
Hybrid Power
The first-generation Century utilized several sizes and iterations of Toyota V8 motors between 1967-1997. One of the coolest updates to the Century occurred in '97 when it became Japan's first and only front-engine, rear-wheel-drive production car equipped with a V12. The 5.0-liter V12 was good for an estimated power output of 308 hp and 355 lb-ft of torque. For the third-generation Century, Toyota has dropped the V12 (sad face) in favor of electrification. Borrowing from the previous generation Lexus LS600h, the latest Toyota Century uses a 5.0-liter V8 hybrid, which produces roughly 425 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. In terms of MPG, the V8 hybrid system in the Lexus LS600h got an EPA estimated 19 city/23 highway.
>>Join the conversation about the new Century Convertible for the emperor right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
