The Toyota Century is Japan’s ultimate chauffeur car. Introduced in 1967 and named to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sakichi Toyoda, founder of the Toyoda group, it has been built largely by hand in small numbers for Japanese executives, government officials and the Imperial Household. The second generation (1997–2017) used a 5.0-litre V12 — the only V12 ever put into a Japanese production car — and today’s Century is a hybrid V8 sedan alongside a newer Century SUV.

At a glance

Generation Years Powertrain
First 1967–1997 V8
Second 1997–2017 5.0L V12
Third 2018–today 5.0L V8 hybrid
Century SUV 2023–today Plug-in hybrid V6

Built for the back seat

The Century is designed around the rear passenger. The rear seats recline and include massage and leg rests; controls for audio, climate and curtains sit in the rear armrest; and the rear floor and seat height are set for dignified entry and exit. Wool upholstery is often preferred over leather, because it is quieter and, in Japanese tradition, considered more refined for formal use.

Understated by design

Unlike European luxury cars, the Century avoids flashy styling. Its upright shape changed little for decades, and its hood ornament is a phoenix (hō-ō) rather than a Toyota badge. The paint is polished in multiple stages by hand, and the Century is sold almost exclusively in Japan — few owners want to be seen, and the car is designed accordingly.

The V12

The 1997 Century’s 1GZ-FE V12 was engineered for silence and reliability, with a design able to keep running on six cylinders if one bank failed — a reassuring feature for a head-of-state car. It remained Japan’s only production V12.

Imperial cars

A specially built Century Royal serves as Japan’s imperial state car, used for occasions such as imperial ceremonies. Read British royal state cars for how other monarchies approach state cars.

Century SUV

In 2023 Toyota added the Century SUV, a tall vehicle with a plug-in hybrid V6, rear seats that recline deeply, and wide-opening rear doors for a graceful entrance. It reflects the global shift of chauffeur customers from sedans to SUVs.

A different philosophy

The Century shows that chauffeur cars are shaped by culture: Japanese buyers value discretion, craftsmanship and quiet, while Western buyers often favor presence. In the U.S., the closest equivalent is the long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz S-Class. See also the Lexus LM.