What kind of car do you think of when you hear about a Toyota high-end model car? Toyota has a luxury car brand called Lexus. It is splendid tailoring to large coupe “LC” and luxury sedan “LS”, with continuous promising sales. However, that is not the top of Toyota’s models. Toyota’s top model is not Lexus, but a saloon car called “Century”. It is hardly known to the world because it is only sold in Japan, but it is a model that belongs to the so-called "prestige class", same as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz Maybach and Cadillac Stretch Limousine. The Century was fully remodeled on the 22nd June after 21 years, and it has been developed into its 3rd generation.
Transformed into 5 Liter V8 hybrid equipped eco car
The biggest feature of the new Century is that it has become a hybrid car that runs on both an engine and electric motor. The old model was equipped with a V type 12 cylinders engine with 5 Liter displacement, but the new model is V type is 8 cylinders of the same displacement.
It seems like the spec was lowered down but that is not the case. The old engine was of the era when the Japanese government had limited the maximum output of domestic cars to 280HP, so it remained 280 HP until the end. On the other hand, the new model generates power as high as 381 HP with the engine alone. And when the electric motor and engine run at the same time, the hybrid output can reach about 440 HP.
Although the weight of the super-large body reaches 2370 kg with 5.33m in total length and 1.93m in full width, the new hybrid power train will let its large body reach the high speed zone quickly. In addition, the published fuel efficiency is 13.6km/L. It has the potential to constantly record more than 10km/L even in actual situations. It can be said to be an eco car unparalleled in the world in the prestige saloon category.
Overwhelming quietness and vibration-proof performance that gives VIPs a comfortable ride
Century's amazing features is not limited to ecological performance and speed. The true value is that it is one of the world’s most comfortable cars.
It has all kinds of functions in the back seat prepared for the VIP of the political and business worlds including the Prime Minister. First of all, not only do the seats go back, the whole seat unit has independent left and right reclining functions. Its comfort is like a first class luxury business jet. The seat back is equipped with a pneumatic massage function, so you can also relieve body fatigue while traveling.
The suspension for front and back, which is designed exclusively for Century, is a complex format called multi-link. It smoothly absorbs all the forces exerted to the tire from various directions such as front, sideways, diagonal, and it seems that low vibration is implemented giving the feeling that the cruiser is moving quietly on some water-like surface. Furthermore, after installing a thick sound insulation sheet throughout the body, it is equipped with a noise canceler that cancels slightly transmitted noise using acoustic technology.
The price is 19.6 million Yen including tax. They plan to sell 50 units per month.
This ultra-luxury car is usually sold only to customers that are VIP, but in fact there is a way for common people to ride as well; when it is used as chartered hire with driver.
The price is high, but don’t you think it’s cool to be able to ride on this ultra-luxury car which is only in Japan and do sightseeing around Tokyo?
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