by Toyota seems to have decided it’s tired of being associated only with Prados and Corollas. And Lexus wasn’t quite cutting it either. Now the Japanese are playing in the big luxury league — and have shown in teasers what they call “one of a kind.” The new Century coupe looks like a Bentley that has found peace in Zen.
The world saw an elegant two-door coupe with high ground clearance and rather unusual doors — not conventional, but sliding, like in a minivan. This is probably so the owner can exit the car calmly without ruining their Issey Miyake suit.
An arch-shaped roof, a high window line, slim two-tier headlights, a giant illuminated grille — everything suggests that Toyota is no longer afraid of the word “status.” The grille is adorned with the Century Phoenix emblem — a symbol of rebirth. And it seems here it is resurrecting not from ashes, but from the Bentley catalog.
What’s under the hood is still a secret, but insiders hint at a hybrid with a 3.5-liter V6 or even a V8. And, of course, not without an electric “boost” — because the 21st century obliges.
But for now, you can’t buy this beauty — only dream about it. Perhaps it’s just a show car meant to demonstrate that Toyota also knows how to make luxury. And not only for the imperial garage, but also for those who have outgrown the Land Cruiser or the Lexus LS.
And while we wait for the premiere at the Japan Mobility Show at the end of October — we can honestly say: if Bentley makes glamour, then Toyota makes it sensible. And you still want to try sitting behind the wheel of this phoenix.
