Since the flower power days of 1967, Toyota’s Century has been the epitome of luxury sedans. But hold your chauffeur-driven horses – the Century name is branching into new territories. Enter the Century SUV, or as Toyota puts it, a “new concept for chauffeur-driven mobility.” And no, it’s not just an SUV; it’s a mobile palace with a jaw-dropping price tag – a cool $170,000 in Japan, making it the Land Cruiser’s wealthier, refined cousin.
In a recent exposé by the Toyota Times magazine, the secretive birth of the Century SUV was unveiled, and it’s nothing short of automotive poetry. Nestled in the Tahara Plant in Japan, this luxobarge skips the regular assembly line inspection circus. Instead, it gets the VIP treatment – a one-on-one inspection by a master inspector. Move over, regular inspectors; this is a job for the chosen ones.
While the average Joe inspector deals with specific parts, the master inspector – think of them as automotive zen masters – scrutinizes the entire vehicle through a meticulous 17-step process. The paint must be flawless, the engine bay pristine, and there’s zero tolerance for panel gaps or unevenness. Meet Moriaki Higa, one of the two appointed master inspectors, a veteran in inspecting Lexus cars. According to Higa, the Century SUV faces stricter standards than even the prestigious Lexus lineup. Every vehicle is treated like a canvas, meticulously analyzed for paint perfection.
In the rare event of a hiccup, the SUV is whisked away to the “coating clinic” for a remedy. Paint defects are addressed with utmost care, ensuring each Century SUV is a rolling masterpiece.
But the luxury doesn’t stop there. The Century SUV showcases its autonomy by silently gliding to the mechanical inspection station, leveraging its PHEV setup to cruise in electric mode. Simulated city drives follow, allowing the vehicle to undergo final tweaks to its wheels and headlights. Then, in a scene straight out of a futuristic novel, the SUV chauffeurs itself to a dedicated test course. Here, it’s pushed to higher speeds, scrutinized for any odd noises, and subjected to a new test assessing its behavior in pure electric mode.
All in all, the Century SUV undergoes a royal treatment lasting three and a half hours from start to finish. With Toyota aiming to sell 30 units monthly, this not-an-SUV has carved its niche as the zenith of perfection and sophistication on four wheels. It’s not just a car; it’s an experience, and each Century SUV carries the weight of automotive perfection, one master inspection at a time.
