For decades, the Century has been the most luxurious car ever designed in Japan. Primarily sold domestically to government officials and members of the business elite, it has been a sedan since its debut in 1967. But things started to change in 2023, when Toyota decided to expand into SUV production. At the Japanese Mobility Expo currently underway, Century returns in a sleeker body style: a coupe.
Be careful, this is not a Toyota. It’s a century, full stop. It is now established as Independent brand Century sits at the top of Toyota’s hierarchy, distancing itself from its parent company. It is also far superior to Lexus, and aims to compete with the likes of Rolls Royce. Just like BMW’s ultra-luxury sub-brand, the newly founded brand seeks to offer a completely personalized “one of one” experience.
Pointing out that the Separate is an expensive car, and strangely enough, it doesn’t even have a name. It’s also unclear whether we’re looking at a concept or a production model, although it appears to be somewhere in between. The luxury coupe borrows SUVs Dual-lamp design, but that’s largely where the similarities end. It’s an imposingly large machine that looks like Japan’s answer to the Rolls-Royce Specter.
While the Rolls-Royce Coupe is fully electric, the Century’s hood vents suggest a combustion engine. For reference, the Sedan It uses a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8, while the SUV uses a hybrid V-6. Don’t get your hopes up about the return of the V-12 engine, which Toyota only offered on the second-generation Century sedan from 1997 to 2017.
Photo by: Toyota
The standalone Century Coupe features a four-seat layout with a yoke-shaped steering “wheel” and a refreshingly smartphone-like integrated infotainment screen. A central lip divides both the front and rear seats, while the lack of B-pillars facilitates access to the rear. Interestingly, the car has an asymmetric door design reminiscent of a twisted design Hyundai Veloster With two sliding doors on the passenger side (left) and only one on the driver side (right).
There’s a lot to like about the fastback-shaped Century, although the absence of a rear window is perhaps less endearing. Then again, it’s still a show car and won’t make it to production in this exact form. The final version will likely lighten things up with traditional doors, mirrors and columns.
Toyota is still tight-lipped about when the car will go on sale, but it’s making it very clear that the Century represents the absolute pinnacle of Japanese luxury.
