People often refer to the Toyota Century as Japan's Rolls-Royce. Since its debut in 1967, the nameplate has been synonymous with stately sedans, embodying timeless luxury. However, Toyota is now breaking new ground, introducing the Century SUV, a remarkable deviation from its sedan lineage and a direct challenger to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. This opulent off-roader is exclusively designed for discerning chauffeur-driven buyers who demand luxury and exclusivity.

Despite sharing the Century name, the Century SUV distinguishes itself with its striking design. It features a contemporary front end with rectangular headlights adorned with four LED accents and a honeycomb-shaped grille that gradually decreases in size. Gleaming trim details underscore its status as Toyota's flagship offering, while two-tone paint options create a visual link to the original Century sedan. The rear boasts a roof-mounted spoiler, distinctive LED lights, and prominently displayed "CENTURY" lettering on the hatch.

Notably, the Century SUV emphasizes customization, allowing buyers to tailor their vehicles to their exact preferences—a level of personalization akin to what one might expect from Rolls-Royce or Bentley. You can expect the Century SUV to adopt a gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid system centered around a 3.5-liter V-6 powerplant. Precise powertrain details remain undisclosed, but the model boasts four-wheel steering and a new Rear Comfort driving mode that eliminates brake jolts, prioritizing the smoothest ride possible.

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The All-New Toyota Century SUV Carries A Strong Legacy Forward

• Toyota just announced its 2024 Century SUV release for the Japanese market.
• There are no current indications this model will be coming to the United States.

Although the Toyota Century brand has existed for many years, the idea of a luxury SUV entering the Asian market is a huge deal. Not only does the announcement of this high-profile hybrid make waves in Japan, but it also means the US could see something similar from Toyota down the line. The Century sedan has long been the epitome of Japanese luxury, and now, with an SUV to match, the brand has its eyes on this market. Toyota has been redirecting focus to hybrids, PHEVs, and fully electric manufacturing, so who knows: could the Century be coming to North America as an EV in a few years?

With this new announcement, Century will become a staple of Toyota's Japanese market, which, after all, is where the brand often tests new tech and design. We aren't 100 percent on specifics *yet, * but this all-new Century SUV should hit markets by the end of this year or early 2024. This has been rumbling between news outlets and car enthusiasts for a couple of years, and now, the SUV version of a long-loved model comes to life! The features shared so far are incredible and have a potential price tag of $170,000. Could the Century SUV beat out Rolls-Royce one day?

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The All-New 2024 Toyota Century Boasts A Hybrid Setup

• The 2024 Toyota Century SUV boasts a gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
• This release will be the first semi-electric Century to date.

Century is getting a much larger frame and design than its original sedan, and this 2024 release is also coming to the market as a hybrid. Toyota has confirmed this luxury SUV boasts a gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain built around a 3.5-liter V6. Powertrain specifications haven't been released, but we'd guess the all-new Century SUV will offer a four-wheel steering system and a new Rear Comfort driving mode.

Toyota has been testing new safety and comfort features in Japan and abroad for many years, with the Century lineup at the forefront. As of 2024, the Century sedan remains gas-powered, but the brand could shake things up. The 2024 Century SUV also features a generous wheelbase of 116.1 inches and tips the scales at a hefty 5,665 pounds. This will be built to last, with the company confirming only 30 units are being sold monthly.

The Century brand is rapidly changing, and we're excited to see where Toyota can take it. After all, this could be the company's best chance at transforming the luxury EV market here in the States, especially with all of Toyota's current models slowly switching from combustion engines to hybrid drivetrains or fully electric platforms. Century would be a nice transition for the luxury sector of Toyota globally, as it currently doesn't have many that fit that title.

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The 2024 Century SUV's Interior Will Leave You Speechless

• The 2024 Century SUV will boast expansive interiors, quiet cabin space, and plenty of tech.
• Toyota has made this SUV with rear doors capable of 75-degree angle opening/closing.

Upon the debut of this SUV, Toyota has also shared various photos and details of what drivers can expect inside their luxury purchase. For instance, the 2024 Century SUV boasts electrically deployable side steps and rear doors that open to a 75-degree angle. Alternatively, minivan-like electric sliding rear doors allow passengers to enter and exit the car effortlessly. Additionally, Toyota will install clear laminated glass on the cabin side of the cargo space separator so that people relaxing on the fully reclining seats don't hear any noises from the cargo area.

The entire SUV is made for the user experience. That has and will continue to make Century one of the best in its class. The Century SUV emphasizes customization, allowing buyers to tailor their vehicles to their exact preferences, something that most Toyota's models do not permit. Spanning 205 inches in length, 78 inches in width, and 71 inches in height, the 5,665-pound Century SUV is generously proportioned. However, its size prioritizes passenger comfort over seat capacity, accommodating four occupants with exquisite rear-seat amenities. Again, we're only in the early phases of seeing what this SUV is capable of, so stay tuned.

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The Latest Century SUV Might Cost You $170,000

• The 2024 Century SUV could be as expensive as $170,000 (or 25,000,000 yen).
• This luxury SUV will not be for sale anywhere but Japan for now.

The price tag was one of the more surprising announcements during the 2024 Century debut. The Century SUV is already on sale, albeit limited to the Japanese market, at a starting price of 25,000,000 yen, approximately $170,000. Unfortunately, for eager American buyers, there is no indication that Toyota's most expensive offering will be available in the United States for at least 25 years, adding to its aura of exclusivity.

With that said, Toyota has historically surprised us with how it handles successful international releases, so the Century family could one day come to the States and even Europe. With its bold 2026 vision for electric-only vehicle lineups being introduced across the spectrum, Toyota has the chance to do something revolutionary for EV manufacturing and luxury. There aren't too many luxury EV SUVs right now, and Toyota could be the company to change that.

Again, Japan has been the hub for Toyota since its inception, with the Century sedan and now SUV being exclusive to the country. This will undoubtedly cause us to get stir-crazy worldwide, but perhaps that is what Toyota wants. With such high demand, the company can charge people hundreds of thousands of dollars without blinking an eye. 2024 looks very promising for the Century family and the Japanese luxury SUV market.