Toyota recently quietly released the century SUV convertible version in the Japanese grand sumo tournament, this four-door topless SUV was born in a retired sumo wrestler’s customization needs, aimed at providing a spacious and comfortable cruising seat.
The most obvious difference between the Century SUV convertible and the hardtop version is undoubtedly the lack of B and C pillars and roof, which has transformed the original sedate and atmospheric SUV into a quirky four-door convertible. Convertible SUVs have never been market favorites, and Toyota clearly has no intention of mass-producing this model.
Styling quibbles aside, the Century SUV Convertible boasts elegant white paint, multi-spoke wheels and cream leather upholstery, while the rear seats are specially designed for parades, making it easy for Rex to wave to cheering spectators. Unlike the regular model, the rear space has been redesigned to accommodate the parade seats, while the conventional seats have been removed.
To compensate for the loss of rigidity caused by the convertible top, Toyota engineers have strengthened the body structure and suspension components – after all, the name “Century” implies a corresponding requirement for quality. Unfortunately, there are no photos of the car with the roof closed, so it seems that the car can only offer a convertible experience, and there is no sign of the folding soft top or the top mounts around the windshield.
Toyota made no mention of powertrain changes for the car, presumably it still features a 3.5-liter V6 engine and plug-in hybrid powertrain delivering 406 horsepower distributed to all four wheels via an intelligent e-CVT transmission. Despite its power, the Century SUV seeks a calm and elegant driving experience.
It’s worth noting that the Century SUV is built on the same TNGA-K platform as the Honda and Lexus TX. When the SUV version was released, Toyota teased the existence of a convertible version and revealed that another high-performance version of the Century SUV, the GRMN, is also planned, further expanding the audience for the Century model. Toyota President Akio Toyoda believes that the new Century will appeal to young, affluent buyers who will abandon traditional European brands.
