The Toyota Century Convertible has made its official
debut during the coronation ceremony of Emperor Naruhito. The car was prominently featured
in a parade that took place yesterday and the model transported the Emperor to
the Akasaka Palace on a winding route that saw the convertible hit the streets
of Tokyo.
Despite its high-profile appearance, Toyota has
remained tight-lipped about it. However, the car closely echoes the standard
Century and features a retractable roof and a modified rear end. Previous
reports have also suggested the convertible has been equipped with unique rear
seats that are 40 mm higher than on the sedan. This helps to get
onlookers a better look at their Emperor.
Since the convertible is largely identical to the
sedan, it likely uses a hybridized powertrain that consists of a nickel-metal
hydride battery, an electric motor and a 5.0-liter V8 engine. This setup gives
the Century a combined output of 425 hp.
Reports have suggested the Century Convertible is
the royal family’s first new ‘parade car’ in 30 years and replaced a 1990
Rolls-Royce Corniche that was only used on two occasions. Regardless, we’re
going to see a lot more of the convertible in the coming months as it’s expected
to transport Emperor Naruhito to high-profile events such as the 2020 Summer
Olympic Games in Tokyo. The car is also expected to be put on display when not
in use.
