Toyota may have a new luxury crossover Century SUV in its lineup.
It is assumed that the model may appear as early as this year. Probably, it will be one step higher than the current Land Cruiser.
The Japanese company has been producing its executive sedan Toyota Century since 1967.
Despite more than half-century history, the «four-door» has changed generation only a couple of times.
The current third-generation model hit the home market in the summer of 2018. There is also an open-top version.
Production of the Century is set up in Japan, other markets this luxury sedan is not supplied.
In the future, the Century family may expand at the expense of a full-size executive crossover, according to the Japanese publication Best Car.
It is possible that the model will be called Century SUV (information has not been officially confirmed).
According to preliminary data, the basis of Toyota Century SUV will be popular in the States a large crossover Highlander (soon there will be a stretched version under its own name — Grand Highlander).
It is expected that in contrast to the donor, the novelty will have only two rows of seats and a solid legroom for passengers behind.
We shall remind, the actual Highlander has variants with seven- and eight-seater interior.
According to the publication, the length of Century SUV will be 5200 mm, and the wheelbase — about 3 meters.
Note that these figures are significantly higher than the current Toyota Land Cruiser 300: its length is 4965 mm and distance between the axes — 2850 mm.
It is noted, that the width of the new crossover will be 30 mm less (1950 mm), and height — 200 mm less (1750 mm). Curb weight is expected to be about 2,200 kg.
It is expected that Toyota Century SUV will not get a gasoline 5.0-liter V8, which is equipped with the same executive sedan.
According to unconfirmed reports, a new crossover can be equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, which works in tandem with the electric motor installed on the rear axle.
Lexus LC 500h and LS 500h have a similar hybrid power unit.
According to rumors, the Century SUV could appear on the Japanese market as early as the middle of this year, which means the premiere could take place very soon.
So far, there is no information about plans to send the new crossover to other markets.
The model is expected to be priced around 10-15 million yen, with the starting price tag of the Century luxury sedan currently at around 20 million yen.
Meanwhile, it was recently reported that the Toyota Land Cruiser may return to the U.S. market.
The model left the States in 2021: the company decided that local customers have enough premium «relative» Lexus LX, whose sales here have traditionally been higher.
Last month, Jack Hollis, executive vice president of sales for local Toyota division, hinted at the possibility of the «300th» in the U.S.
