1997 TOYOTA CENTURY G50

1997 TOYOTA CENTURY G50.
The Toyota Century is a lineup of full-size luxury cars and limousines produced mainly for the Japanese market, serving as Toyota's flagship car within Japan; globally the unrelated Lexus LS series is Toyota's flagship luxury model. Production of the Century began in 1967, and the model received only minor changes until redesigns in 1997 and 2018.
The Century derived its name from the 100th birthday of Sakichi Toyoda (born 14 February 1867), the founder of Toyota Industries. It is often used by the Imperial House of Japan, the Prime Minister of Japan, senior Japanese government leaders, and high-level executive businessmen.
The first-generation Century was available with only a V8 engine at its introduction in 1967 until a full platform redesign in 1997. The second generation was only installed with a Toyota-designed and -built V12, an engine bespoke to the Century, until 2018, when the power-train reverted to a V8 with the addition of Toyota's hybrid technology.
While the Century is a premium, full-size luxury sedan, it is not available at Japanese Lexus dealerships; it can only be purchased at specifically identified Toyota Store locations. The gold phoenix logo used throughout is called the Hō'ō (鳳凰) or Fushichō (不死鳥) from Sinospheric mythology, representing the Imperial House of Japan, and the image can be found throughout Asia, such as the Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto.
The exterior styling of the Century has, with some modifications, remained unchanged since its introduction, primarily due to its perception as denoting conservative success. Its appearance is iconic in Asian countries and is usually painted black. The closest Japanese competitor was the Nissan President, with a similar status reputation although, during the 1960s and 1970s, the high market positioning was also shared with the Mitsubishi Debonair. In the 1970s, two other Japanese competitors introduced large sedans - the Isuzu Statesman de Ville and the Mazda Roadpacer (both derived from General Motors-Australia products) - which were short-lived.
Second generation (G50; 1997)
The Century received a complete redesign in April 1997, although the new model was visually very similar to the previous generation. This model is powered by a 5.0 L 1GZ-FE V12, rated at 206 kW in Japanese models and 220 kW at 5200 rpm in export models. It was initially equipped with a 4-speed A342E automatic, until a 6-speed "intelligent" transmission arrived in 2005. It also features air suspension. The Century remains the first and only Japanese front-engine, rear-wheel-drive production car equipped with a V12, and it is Toyota's first V12 engine. As this is a top level luxury flagship, private owners are comfortable with the yearly road tax bill.
Although the previous generation was not officially exported despite its common use by Japanese diplomats overseas, Toyota began limited official exports of the G50 Century to Europe and other Asian markets including China and the Middle East in November 1998, positioning it as an executive car for company and government officials. About 100 left-hand drive cars were produced for export, with some going to the United States for promotional and testing purposes. Several were in use as corporate cars for Toyota's North American executives. As of 2022, the G50 remains the only generation of the Century to have officially been exported and sold outside of Japan.
The second generation Century was discontinued on 4 February 2017, after almost 20 years of production. 9,573 vehicles were built from 1996 (the launch year was 1997) to the final figure of 100 cars in 2016.
CC rating: 4,996cc 305 ci (5.0L) 1GZ-FE V12 (GZG50)
NZ First Registration: 18-Mar-2022
Registered previously in: Japan
1 of 37 vehicles in New Zealand

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Lovely looking car. I've heard of the Toyota Century, but we've never gotten one here in the USA.

[@mauriziomerli4470]

走る税金！

[@rattfink3285]

これらの車両に対するニュージーランドでのランニング税はなく、他の車両と同じです。燃料、免許、および道路にふさわしいフィットネスの令状。No Running taxes in NZ for these vehicles, just the same as any other vehicle. Fuel, licence, and road worthy warrant of fitness.