Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda is an unashamed car enthusiast, and being the boss of the world’s biggest vehicle manufacturer has its perks.
One such advantage is having his own collection of cars based on current production models, but with enough performance tweaks to make them even more desirable.
Among his many vehicles is the Toyota Century GRMN SUV prototype, unveiled last year after the nameplate pivoted from its traditional luxury sedan roots to make a new additional high-riding model.
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Century GRMN Prototype
Speaking to current Toyota Century owners, Toyoda-san said he wants “to make a GRMN that many people from around the world can ride”, with prospective plans to sell it in Japan and China.
Unlike the standard Century, which is targeted at more traditional luxury SUV customers, the GRMN version features extensive carbon fibre exterior trim and black 22-inch wheels, giving it an even more aggressive stance.
Unfortunately, not much is known about the specifics of Toyoda-san’s Century GRMN, though the model’s standard specs provide a taste of what can be expected.
The Century SUV is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 which is paired with two electric motors – one for the front and rear axles, respectively – to produce up to 303kW, driving all four wheels through a continuously variable transmission.
Regular Century (left) with the GRMN prototype
It’s unlikely the older Century Sedan would lend its hybrid V8 to the GRMN, as the two models are on completely different platforms.
As with other hardcore GRMN variants such as the upcoming Supra GRMN, it’s expected the Century would receive a boost to further increase its outputs, as well as enhancements to its suspension to improve handling.
Until Toyota puts the Century GRMN into production proper, we can only guess about what it’ll feature, though it’s highly unlikely we’ll see it in the brand’s Australian showrooms as the nameplate has never been officially sold here.
That hasn’t stopped third-party importers from bringing in previous generations of Century, with the most popular choice being the V12-powered version from the late 1990s through to the mid 2010s.
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