This is the Emperor of Japan’s New Toyota Century Convertible.
The new Japanese Emperor is introducing himself in rare style.
On April 30 of this year, Japanese Emperor Akihito became the first Japanese royal in 200 years to abdicate his throne. He cited his poor health as the reason for the transition. His departure also meant the end of the Heisei Era of Japanese Emperors.
The official transfer of power happened on May 1, but the coronation ceremony is yet to take place. That will happen on October 22, and the event will welcome envoys and dignitaries from more than 120 countries. And based on these photos first published by Japanese Nostalgic Car, it looks like Emperor Naruhito—the man set to take Akihito’s place—will be rolling up to his coronation in style.
A one-off Toyota Century convertible will be used to take Naruhito along the parade route and to the location of the ceremony. The 2.8-mile trip is expected to take approximately 30 minutes. Someone in average shape could outrun it, but the driver needs to keep the convoy’s pace in check so that spectators are able to get a good look at the emperor. The Century is also expected to appear during the upcoming 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
The standard Century uses a hybrid powertrain, pairing a 5.0-liter V8 with electric motors to produce a combined 425 horsepower (317 kilowatts), identical to what was previously used in the Lexus LS600h.
The Century is the first new parade car for Japan’s royal family in nearly 30 years. Previously, a Rolls-Royce Corniche III filled the role, though it was only used twice and was in need of significant updating to be used for this special occasion.
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