Toyota has Bentley in its sights because it reportedly appears to be like to spin off its long-running Century nameplate as a standalone luxurious automobile model to sit down above Lexus.
An govt from Toyota advised Forbes on the Tokyo Auto Salon that the corporate plans to increase the sale of its Century sedan and SUV fashions to the worldwide market and promote them beneath a standalone Century model identify.
“The Century will truly be positioned above the Lexus model as an additional luxurious model,” the chief advised Forbes.
They confirmed Toyota is focusing on markets exterior Japan and is presently within the course of of building its international positioning.
Forbes’ supply didn’t go into element on what number of nations will get entry to the newcomer model however did affirm it will likely be accessible in each left- and right-hand drive markets in Europe, the Center East, Asia and the Americas.
The supply additionally confirmed the Century SUV will likely be supplied to consumers as a completely customisable automobile much like the likes of a Rolls-Royce or Bentley.
Consumers can reportedly decide for the standard Century SUV which is able to set them again round US$170,000 (A$258,800) or attain for a top-spec bespoke construct for round US$220,000 (A$334,600) just like the Century SUV GRMN.
Toyota reportedly has plans to confer with its Century SUV globally because the Century whereas its four-door saloon sibling will undertake the Century Sedan identify.
The Century SUV debuted in September 2023 and has been showcased in plenty of guises, together with a GR Sport with rear doorways that slide like these of a folks mover, in addition to a four-door convertible.
Extra just lately on the Tokyo Auto Salon, the model revealed a GRMN (Gazoo Racing Meister of Nurburgring) prototype which belongs to Toyota chairman and former CEO Akio Toyoda.
The prototype incorporates a rail-less energy sliding door, and revised suspension to maintain the SUV secure and flat throughout cornering.
In line with Forbes, the bespoke Century SUV GRMN prototype – ought to it attain the manufacturing line – might put on the Morizo Version badge. It would reportedly set clients again round US$200,000 (A$304,400) and to this point is the very best spec model of the luxurious SUV to be revealed.
The Century SUV is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain with a complete system output of 303kW of energy. That is mated to a repeatedly variable transmission (CVT) and an eFour all-wheel drive system.
It’s the identical powertrain setup because the just lately revealed Lexus TX550h+, which is an opulent model of the left-hand drive-only Toyota Grand Highlander. The Century SUV shares its platform with these fashions.
Toyota claims the Century SUV has an electrical vary of as much as 69km on the Japanese WLTC check cycle. When the battery is depleted it has a mean hybrid gasoline consumption of seven.0L/100km.
The present Century sedan – solely the third era because the nameplate’s debut in 1967 – debuted in 2018.
It rides a special, rear-wheel drive platform and incorporates a hybrid V8 powertrain.
MORE: 2024 Toyota Century: $265k extremely luxurious SUV revealed
