A replacement for the 14-year old Toyota Century appears to be finally on the way but that also seems to mean the end of the line for the whisper-quiet 5.0-litre V12.
Kanto Auto Works, the firm that has been building the current car since 1997, has just revealed a proposed successor on its stand at the Tokyo motor show. The FS Hybrid concept is high on glitz but low on detail. For now, KAW is only saying that the FS (Flag Ship) Hybrid is powered by the combination of a petrol V8 and an electric motor.
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As the current Century is the only Toyota vehicle to be powered by the firm’s 5.0-litre V12, the unit will likely die when the car finally goes out of production.
Car spotters will know the Century from its traditional role as the vehicle of choice for ambassadors at Japanese embassies the world over. Toyota is understood to be keen on reaching beyond diplomatic missions as the target buyers of the next generation car. To that end, less formal styling seems likely as a way of appealing to private buyers, especially in China and the Gulf States, where pricey limos sell well.
A production-ready version of KAW’s FS Hybrid is likely to appear at the next Tokyo motor show in late 2013.
Author: Glenn Brooks
