CarBrandLogos archive · Toyota Century · 2018

Toyota CenturySedan (third generation)

The traditional Century sedan moved from twelve cylinders to a V8 hybrid in 2018.

Photo: Jones028 from Hong Kong · CC BY 2.0

The story

A defining chapter in Toyota Century history.

Explore the ideas, engineering and context that shaped the Toyota Century Sedan (third generation), then continue into its specifications and place in the marque's lineage.

Origins

The third-generation Century went on sale in Japan on June 22, 2018, the first complete redesign of the sedan in twenty-one years. Toyota retained the formal four-door proportions and phoenix emblem so the car remained unmistakably a Century, while enlarging the rear compartment and updating the structure, safety equipment and cabin technology.

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Design and engineering

The largest mechanical change was the end of the V12. In its place Toyota installed a 5.0-liter V8 hybrid system, using electric assistance to deliver the quiet, smooth progress expected of a chauffeur-driven flagship while improving efficiency. Rear-seat considerations shaped the car: a long wheelbase, a low step-in height, wide-opening doors and available wool upholstery were intended to make entry, conversation and long journeys more comfortable.

1997 Toyota Century 03 · Mytho88 · CC BY-SA 3.0

In production

This sedan did not disappear when Toyota introduced a taller Century vehicle in 2023. The company explicitly kept it in the range, giving the name two body forms for the first time. It therefore bridges two eras: the Century model tradition that began in 1967 and the distinct Century brand Toyota announced in 2025.

1967 Toyota Century 01 · Mytho88 · CC BY-SA 3.0

At a glance