We Don't Get It

Trying To Comprehend Toyota’s Attempt At A Rolls-Royce.

- Jonny Lieberman

We sold 27.” Toyota chief engineer Masato Tanabe is curt with his answer. I had asked if Toyota had plans to sell its recently redesigned Century—the chauffeur-driven, ultra-luxury sedan that’s been in production since 1967—in markets outside Japan. He first, quickly, answered, “No.” Then I ask why not. Because, Tanabe-san explains (through a translator), they tried to do so with the previous generation. And it flopped.

The second-gen Century launched in 1997 with a 5.0-liter V-12. Yes, a Japanese V-12. For a single car model. Not even Lexus could borrow it. Toyota offered that Century for sale in Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Australia, and a few Middle Eastern countries. One hundred left-hand-drive examples were built, with some winding up in the U.S. to shuttle Toyota’s local executives.

But selling even 100 units was a bridge too far. Even through the cheery-voiced translator, I can sense Tanabe’s bitterness at the rest of the world’s miscomprehension of his baby. Yes, sure, he also rued the loss of what had to be a medium-sized fortune. But really, the rest of the world simply doesn’t understand the sheer genius and excellence of the Toyota Century.

The V-8-powered first-gen Century was in production from 1967 to 1997. The V-12 second-gen version spanned two decades, from 1997 to 2017. The third-generation Century bowed last year. It sports the 5.0-liter V-8 and hybrid system out of the previous-generation Lexus LS 600h L. If you’d like to buy one, the price is $180,000.

The Century isn’t very nice to drive. It’s torquey and nearly silent but tuned to be smooth above all else. It’s proudly, defiantly, most certainly not a driver’s car. Not for nothing, less than 10 percent of Century owners will ever slide in behind the steering wheel. Know thy customer.