Here's what we can expect from Toyota's most luxurious SUV yet.
At the reveal of the new Alphard and Vellfire luxury vans, Toyota teased the forthcoming Century SUV, confirming rumors that surfaced earlier this year.
Simon Humphries, Member of the Board of Directors and Operating Officer at Toyota, dropped a few hints about the newcomer. Discussing the company's ever-growing range of chauffeur vehicles (including the new hydrogen-powered Crown sedan), he said this onslaught of luxury-oriented models “will not finish [with the Alphard and Vellfire].”
“The Century (referring to the high-end sedan) is the ultimate chauffeur experience. But it, too, will have to evolve as we move toward the future. Later in the year, I hope to have the chance to share the outcome of that story with a new addition to Toyota's chauffeur series. It will certainly be an impressive step in our mission to change the future of cars,” said Humphries.
A teaser image of the Century SUV doesn't reveal much, but the roofline shown below closely resembles the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Based on what Humphries' said, there's plenty to unpack.
Firstly, the Toyota exec described the new model as an addition to the lineup, which suggests the newcomer will be sold alongside the Century sedan. Introducing this new body style makes sense, as luxury SUVs are big business. One only needs to consult Bentley's latest sales figures to see how successful the Bentayga is.
Humphries also described the newcomer as “an impressive step” in Toyota's journey to change the future of cars. That suggests the high-riding Century could arrive with a combustion-engined or fuel-cell hydrogen setup, an all-electric SUV, or both. A traditional hybrid format is most likely, though.
Even though the iconic Century is not offered in the USA, we wouldn't be surprised if the SUV variant hits our shores. After all, the quirky Crown was introduced locally.
Earlier reports suggest the Century SUV will be based on the Highlander, underpinned by the TNGA-K platform. Recently, Toyota revealed a more spacious three-row version called the Grand Highlander. This was later followed by the Lexus TX, a more upmarket SUV closely related to the three-row Highlander.
We wouldn't be surprised to see the Century SUV use the Grand Highlander/Lexus TX platform (albeit with additional revisions). However, the three-row seating arrangement may make way for a more luxurious second row, with an emphasis on rear passenger comfort and space. We've seen this already with the new Lexus LM luxury van, and Mercedes employs a similar setup in the Maybach GLS 600.
Various reports suggest the new Century model will be significantly pricier than the Land Cruiser, which means it may be Toyota's range-topping SUV. Aimed at the chauffeur market, it will likely eschew any off-roading prowess in pursuing on-road refinement.
Keyword: Toyota Century SUV On The Way To Battle Rolls-Royce Cullinan