Toyota discretely revealed the Century SUV Convertible at the Grand Sumo Tournament in Japan. This roofless version of the luxurious SUV flagship was developed in response to a special request from a retired Sumo wrestler, intended to serve as a parade vehicle for future champions. After making a brief appearance in an official teaser last September, the unique Toyota Century SUV Convertible was fully revealed outside the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena in Tokyo last Saturday. While the lower part of the exterior remains identical to the standard model, the roof and pillars have been removed, effectively converting it into a four-door convertible. This open-top SUV is finished in white, complemented by a cream interior and a set of multi-spoke alloy wheels.
In addition to the exterior modifications,
Toyota engineers have put significant effort into adapting the open-air SUV for
its new role. The interior is spacious enough to accommodate two sumo
wrestlers, the body has been reinforced, and the suspension has been
strengthened to support the additional weight. The rear section of the cabin,
resembling a folded fabric top, serves as the small backrest for the custom
rear bench. Photos from the event showcase a substantial amount of legroom,
with the raised floor at the rear offering sumo wrestlers a commanding view of
the cheering crowd.
There is no word on any changes under the
hood, meaning that the stock 3.5-liter V6 plug-in hybrid powertrain has most
likely been carried over. The PHEV offers a combined output of 406 hp, sent to all four wheels through an e-CVT gearbox and the E-Four
Advanced AWD system. Additionally, it provides up to 69 km of
EV-only range, although with two Sumo wrestlers on board, achieving this range
might be more challenging.
As reported by Response, the Toyota
Century SUV Convertible was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Sumo
in 2025 and will be the Japan Sumo Association’s official parade vehicle for
the new champions. According to Toyoda, the company had initially prepared
another parade vehicle based on the Crown, but Miyagino argued that a Century
would be a more fitting choice as the new Toyota flagship. We don’t have
information about the cost of these modifications, but the transformation of a
full-size luxury SUV into a convertible is typically a costly endeavor. Just as
a reminder, the standard Toyota Century SUV is priced at ¥ 25,000,000
(US$ 172,291), making it the automaker’s most expensive model. In addition to the
extensive Meister personalization program, Toyota says its open to create
one-of-a-kind versions upon request. It remains to be seen whether the
Sumo-specific build will serve as an inspiration for similar open-air
conversions of the Century SUV in the future.
