Japnese auto giant, Toyota is alls et to take on the big sharks of the automobile industry as the company opened its flagship luxury sedan to the international markets. The Century, that began rolling out of the factories in 1967 has got its third upgrade in 2018, this time for all the countries.
The first model of the Century debuted on the 100th birthday of Sakichi Toyoda, Toyota’s founder in 1967 and since its inception has undergone only one minor facelift in 1997. Preserving the old tradition but making it apt for today’s time, the car gets a luxurious stance with a hybrid engine.
The Century will carry a price tag of $178,164 which roughly converts to Rs 1.21 crore (excluding duties and taxes). The car will be built in its plant in Japan and will be exported to other countries as a Completely Built Unit (CBU).
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Focussing on the rear cabin, Toyota has straightened the C-pillar to shift the focus. Additionally, the rear cabin is also set higher to enhance the ride comfort.
The Phoenix emblem on the car is hand-carved by craftsmen over a period of six weeks. Compared to model that was upgraded in 1997 and has been on sale ever since, the new model will get a 65mm longer wheelbase, opening up more space in the cabin.
The cabin comes equipped with an 11.6-inch rear seat entertainment system, 12 channel audio amp, and 20 speakers that are positioned wisely throughout the car.
Powering the car would be a 5.0-litre V8 hybrid engine capable of churning out a combined power of 425 bhp and 510 Nm of Torque. As per the company, the car will yield a fuel efficiency of 13 kmpl.
Safety features on the new-age Toyota Century include the Pre-Collision System (PCS), Lane Departure Alert (LDA) system, radar cruise control and adaptive high beam system.
The car will lock horns with its German luxury counterparts BMW 7-series and the Mercedes S-Class.