JAPAN'S ONLY FRONT-ENGINE RWD V12 CAR: THE TOYOTA CENTURY G50

The world of Japanese cars is a rich and complex one. The country has earned a prominent place in the automotive world by producing a wide variety of models renowned for their quality and reliability: from high-performance sports cars, to luxury sedans, to compact kei cars and beyond.

Over the course of more than a hundred years of car history, however, Japan has only ever produced a single car that combined a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout with a V12 engine. This unique model is the second generation of the Toyota Century, a car that even dedicated enthusiasts may not have heard of as it is vanishingly rare outside its home country. The second-gen model was the only one officially exported, albeit in very low numbers.

The Century is a luxury-oriented, highly exclusive model with a low production volume: fewer than 10,000 examples of its second generation have been built in total. Along with its unusual layout, this makes it a little-known, rare gem of the Japanese motoring world. Let’s take a closer look at the second-gen Century and the wider history that surrounds it.

The Second-Generation Toyota Century: A Unique Layout

The second (G50) generation of the Toyota Century arrived in 1997, as the model received its first radical redesign in three decades. Although it did have a new look compared to the Century that had been produced since 1967, the model’s second generation still sported a retro-inspired design, quite different from most other cars on the market in 1997. Its look was inspired by the Century’s underlying design principle, which is to create a car that evokes a timeless, classic feel.

At the heart of this model was a 5.0-liter V12 engine, located at the front of the car but driving the rear wheels: this particular layout had never been used in a Japanese car, and has not made another appearance since. It also marked another important milestone: not only was it Toyota’s first and only V12 engine, it’s also the only production 12-cylinder engine built by a Japanese brand to this day. The engine produced 276 hp, which went up to 295 hp in the rare export version of the model. It was initially paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, later changed to a six-speed unit in 2005.

One particular Century from this generation was the Century Royal, which served as the official state car of the Emperor of Japan between 2006 and 2008. A total of four examples were produced, with several modifications on board. These included granite entry steps, washi paper headlining, and several additional safety features. The rear passenger compartment was upholstered in wool cloth, while the front seats were upholstered in leather.

Of the few examples of the G50 Century that made it outside Japan, just 100 were built with a left-hand-drive layout. Some of them were shipped to the US, mostly for testing and promotional purposes. This generation lasted two decades, eventually coming to an end at the start of 2017.

What Came Before: The Century's Origins

When the second-gen Century made its debut, the nameplate had already been in use for 30 years. The Century had first introduced in 1967: it was created as a way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sakichi Toyoda (Toyota’s founder), which is where the model’s name comes from.

The first-gen Century was derived from another Toyota model with a long history: the Crown. More specifically, it was based on the Crown Eight, an upmarket variety of the second-generation Crown which had been introduced in 1962. The Century was given a modified and slightly larger version of the Crown Eight’s engine: a 3.0-liter V8. The first-gen Century received two subsequent engine upgrades over the course of its lifespan: in 1973, it was fitted with a 3.4-liter V8, and in 1982 with a 4.0-liter V8.

Due to its extremely long lifespan, the first-gen Century underwent several updates, as automotive technology evolved over the years. In 1971, automatic climate control was introduced to the model, while two years later front disc brakes were added and the taillights were upgraded. In 1975, the model was even used as the base for a unique gas turbine-powered concept car, the Century Gas Turbine Hybrid. The decision to use the Century for this concept came about due to the fact that it was one of the few Toyota models of the time with a sufficiently large engine bay.

1987 brought about another refresh, which saw the original three-speed transmission replaced with a four-speed unit. The front end got a new grille and a new headlight design. Two years later, a longer “Limousine” version of the model was also added to the lineup. The first-gen Century was eventually discontinued in March 1997, a few months shy of its 30th birthday.

The Century In The Modern Era: The Third-Gen Model And The Century SUV

The second-gen model was replaced by a new Century at the start of 2018, when the third and current generation was introduced to the world. Unlike its predecessor, it is exclusively available on the Japanese market; production is limited to a maximum of 50 units a month. Although the overall look is still retro-inspired, the new Century also has a modern, high-tech character. This time, the Century is equipped with a hybrid powertrain, which combines a 5.0-liter V8 with a single electric motor for a combined power output of 425 hp.

Rear passenger comfort is, as always, paramount: the model includes features such as reclining rear seats with heat and massage functions, a power-adjustable leg rest, and a 20-speaker sound system. There is also a rear seat infotainment system on board, with a 20-inch screen. The cabin is rich in high-quality materials such as wool, leather, and wood.

The Century has received a few updates for the 2026 model year, mostly oriented towards safety. The model is now equipped with better pedestrian and cyclist detection, as well as better emergency steering support. The collision avoidance system has been improved to tackle complex intersections, making the Century safer for both its occupants and other road users.

In 2023, Toyota also introduced an additional member of the Century lineup: the Century SUV, which takes the defining characteristics of the Century and implements them in an SUV body. The Century SUV is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 combined with two electric motors, with a total output of 406 hp.

One Of One: The Century Coupe Concept

The most recent addition to the Century family is the Century Coupe Concept, which was revealed earlier this year. The new concept marked the start of a new era for the Century name, which is set to become a standalone sub-brand rather than simply being a model name. The Century SUV had already somewhat anticipated this, but the Coupe Concept cemented the nameplate’s new status.

The concept car is finished in a 60-layer orange paint job and is equipped with sliding doors. Its large, squared-off silhouette is almost crossover-like, with large tires and a high ride height. The Coupe Concept is also decorated with a Century Phoenix crest on the grille.

Customization is set to be an important part of the new Century brand, which is adopting the “One of One” motto to emphasize how its cars are custom creations, built to fulfill customers’ individual vision. Interestingly, the brand is also set to have a more global character than ever before, with a view to expanding far beyond its home market of Japan.

Curiously, Toyota has not revealed any details regarding the powertrain at the heart of the Coupe Concept: we don’t even know whether it is gas-powered, electric or hybrid. It could, of course, also be a design study with no powertrain at all.

No matter what direction the Coupe Concept and the Century brand head in, one thing is certain: luxury, comfort, and timeless style will always be at the heart of the brand’s philosophy. The models attached to the Century name today carry forward the legacy of unique cars like the G50 Century, bringing the brand into the future and securing its place in a rapidly evolving automotive world.

Sources: Toyota

2025-12-04T04:09:41Z