Toyota Unveils New “Century Coupe”

Tokyo, Oct. 29 (Jiji Press)–Toyota Motor Corp. unveiled Wednesday a prototype of a coupe model to be sold under the newly independent super luxury brand Century the day before the official start of the Japan Mobility Show 2025 in Tokyo. The leading Japanese automaker has sold the Century series, launched in 1967, as part of the lineup of Toyota-brand vehicles. During a press briefing at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center, the venue for the biennial event, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda said, “We have decided to launch the Century brand.” “Century is not just another brand … We want to cultivate it as a brand that brings the spirit of Japan–the pride of Japan–out into the world,” Toyoda went on to say. The orange-colored prototype of the first coupe model with the Century badge features three seats–two on the right side and one on the left that can move back and forth–covered with the traditional “Nishijin-ori” silk brocade and a “Wajima-nuri” lacquered instrument panel. Toyota also premiered the LS concept, a six-wheeled roomier luxury minivan model under the Lexus brand, and a concept model for the maker’s mainstay Corolla subcompact series. The envisaged minivan will be the new Lexus flagship to replace the existing LS sedan, and the next-generation Corolla will offer all power train options, that is, it can be a battery electric, plug-in hybrid, hybrid or internal combustion engine vehicle, according to the company. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]