The Toyota Century is sometimes called a Japanese Rolls-Royce, and it could quickly have a Cullinan equal.
Japanese outlet Best Car Web stories Toyota has an SUV counterpart for its iconic flagship sedan in growth which might be introduced this yr.
It could merely be referred to as Century SUV, and gross sales will reportedly start round 12 months from now.
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Greatest Automotive Internet has printed anticipated dimensions of round 5.2m lengthy and 1950mm extensive. The longest Land Cruiser 300 Series is 5015mm lengthy and 1990mm extensive, whereas the Tundra– derived Sequoia supplied in North America is 5286mm lengthy and 2022mm extensive.
The outlet stories the ultra-luxury Century SUV will probably be supplied with a 3.5-liter hybrid V6 powertrain and “4WD that drives the rear with an e-axle” (translated), suggesting it’s going to use an eFour set-up as with all others -wheel drive Toyota hybrids just like the RAV4.
Just like the RAV4, it’s going to use a front-biased all-wheel drive system and a transversely mounted engine, with anticipated outputs of 220kW from the petrol engine and 59kW from every electrical motor.
Toyota at the moment makes use of a 3.5-liter hybrid V6 solely within the rear-wheel drive Lexus LS500h and LC500hhowever such a powertrain has beforehand been used within the entrance/all-wheel drive Lexus RX450h and abroad variations of the Toyota Kluger.
Toyota additionally gives a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 i-Drive Max hybrid within the Tundra and Sequoia.
The Century sedan, in distinction, makes use of a 5.0-liter V8 hybrid just like the outdated Lexus LS600h, and is obtainable solely with rear-wheel drive. All three generations of the conservative Century have used rear-wheel drive.
Whereas a entrance/all-wheel drive Toyota SUV with Century badging can be a stunning flip of occasions, there’s some precedent.
The latest generation of Crown has shifted from a standard three-box sedan with rear-wheel drive to a entrance/all-wheel drive automobile with a high-riding fastback physique, though a sedan is coming.
Toyota has additionally utilized the Crown title to each the Kluger crossover and Vellfire folks mover in China.
Greatest Automotive Internet expects the Century SUV to be priced round 10-15 million yen (A$109-164,000). For reference, a Century in Japan begins at simply over 20 million yen (A$218,720).
The Century is offered solely within the Japanese market, the place it’s common with high-level executives and authorities officers in addition to the Emperor of Japan and is produced in restricted volumes.
Supplied solely by means of choose Toyota dealerships, it is usually completed in black with wool fabric upholstery.
Century generations are inclined to final a number of a long time. The primary Century, which used a V8 engine, was offered from 1967 to 1997 and the second, which upgraded to a V12, was offered from 1997 to 2017.
A Century SUV would not be the one time an automaker has leveraged a longtime passenger automobile nameplate for an SUV, with the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the rumored, upcoming Corvette SUV.
Producers lengthy recognized for under providing sports activities automobiles have additionally ventured into the SUV market, together with Ferrari, whereas stalwart luxurious manufacturers like Bentley and Rolls-Royce have additionally developed SUVs.
