The Toyota Century is a luxurious SUV known as the “Rolls-Royce Cullinan of Japan” and was initially introduced in September of the current year. Toyota considers this luxury SUV as a brand icon and it is their first SUV to bear the prestigious Century name. Thus, it’s not surprising that Toyota treats the Century with utmost care compared to its other brand siblings.
According to Toyota, out of 1,500 employees, 40 skilled workers were carefully selected to assemble the Century at its factory located in Tahara, Japan. To secure a position on the assembly line for this luxurious SUV, these 40 workers had to undergo rigorous testing.
Hiroki Tanaka, one of the 40 skilled workers selected by Toyota to produce the Century, mentioned that he went through a mandatory training course and passed a test. This competency test consisted of three parts: evaluating basic skills; writing about the history of the Century line, the vehicle’s structure, and related topics; and conducting practical assessments to demonstrate assembly skills.
Hiroki Tanaka – one of the 40 skilled workers chosen by Toyota to assemble the “Rolls-Royce Cullinan of Japan”
“The written test was more challenging than the practical evaluation as it consisted of 200 questions. However, I passed it by diligently reading books,” shared Tanaka with the Toyota Times magazine. “I learned a lot, from the history of Toyota and the Century line to the high-quality manufacturing techniques of this model. It was truly an invaluable experience.”
Tanaka, who is currently 35 years old, started working for Toyota in 2007. Initially, he worked on the assembly line of his dream car, the Toyota Land Cruiser. Eventually, he had the opportunity to personally own a Toyota Land Cruiser.
Tanaka’s experience in assembling the Toyota Land Cruiser’s chassis helped him improve his skills and gave him the chance to join the team of 40 individuals responsible for producing the Century. In the Toyota Century assembly line, Tanaka’s role is to handle the suspension system. His role is crucial, as even a minor mistake can affect the overall driving experience of the vehicle.
Toyota Century assembly line at a factory in Japan
Precision is always a top priority for Toyota, and with the Century, precision is taken to an even higher level. “With other models, each screw or bolt is tightened once with a tightening machine,” Tanaka explained. “In the Century assembly line, the requirement for accuracy is stricter, so we use clamps to initially tighten by hand, then tighten with a tightening machine. Finally, we use a digital torque wrench with force rotation loaded into the computer,” Tanaka shared.
The process of tightening screws and bolts on the Century takes about 1 minute, 12 times longer than other Toyota models. As a result, Toyota can only produce 3 Century vehicles per day.
Tightening screws and bolts on the Toyota Century takes 12 times longer than other Toyota models
In the Toyota Century assembly line, the 40 skilled workers are divided into 4 separate areas: finishing details (instrument panel, panoramic sunroof, etc.); chassis (engine, suspension system, battery, etc.); final finishing (seats, doors, windows, etc.); and adjustment/fluids (engine coolant, braking system, etc.).
The distribution process for the Toyota Century 2024 also receives special attention. In Japan, not all dealerships are authorized to sell this model. Only dealerships with “Century experts” are eligible to sell this model. In simpler terms, these are sales staff who are well-versed in all details related to the Toyota Century 2024.
Following in the footsteps of Rolls-Royce, Toyota also offers a TaylorMade ordering system for the Century line. Through Toyota’s TaylorMade system, customers can customize their Century by adding personalized details such as Rolls-Royce-like suicide doors or MPV-style sliding doors. Additionally, customers can request Toyota to produce a convertible version of the Century. According to information from dealerships in Japan, customers can also choose materials such as carbon fiber or gold for the construction of the Toyota Century 2024.
In the Japanese market, the Toyota Century 2024 currently has a starting price of 25 million yen (approximately 4.075 billion dong). This price could significantly increase with optional equipment or customer-specific orders.
The Century is currently Toyota’s flagship model, surpassing the Lexus LX 600 in terms of price
For the mentioned price, customers will receive a luxury SUV equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The powertrain includes a 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 gasoline engine, 2 electric motors, and an e-CVT transmission. The gasoline engine delivers a maximum power of 262 horsepower and a maximum torque of 335 Nm. The electric motors on the front axle generate 182 horsepower and 269 Nm, while the electric motor on the rear axle produces 109 horsepower and 168 Nm. Combined, the vehicle has a power output of up to 406 horsepower, surpassing the V8 gasoline engine of the sedan version.
The Toyota Century 2024 is equipped with a powerful plug-in hybrid powertrain
Featuring E-Four all-wheel drive with 2 electric motors on both axles, the Toyota Century 2024 provides excellent handling. Additionally, it is equipped with a rear-wheel steering system called Dynamic Rear Steering and a Rear Comfort mode to prevent jerking when coming to a stop, ensuring the comfort of passengers in the rear seats.
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