Toyota Century GRMN SUV Set to Enter Production

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda has confirmed plans to produce the Toyota Century GRMN SUV prototype.

Remember the sporty Toyota Century GRMN SUV prototype unveiled last year? It turns out that Toyota is planning to transform the sporty SUV concept into a production model, where it will be sold in Japan and other selected international markets.

This revelation was confirmed by Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda himself, as the boss said the GRMN version of the Century SUV is meant to target a younger audience that seeks some sportiness in a luxury and practical form. The chairman even admits that he owns the one-off GRMN versions of the Century, thus prompting him and the company to turn the one-off special into a production model.

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda

“The Century I own is the only GRMN there is for now. Next, I want to make a GRMN that many people from around the world can ride,” said Akio Toyoda during an interview with the Toyota Times.

When asked if the Century GRMN would be introduced into other international markets like China, Toyoda confirmed, “We’re planning to.” However, he added, “We need to wait a bit.”

The Century GRMN SUV prototype that Toyoda mentioned is essentially a sportier, souped-up version of the automaker’s new flagship luxury SUV. The GRMN-ification treatment sees the luxury Century SUV gain a sportier bodykit with several carbon fibre elements and optional sliding doors for better practicality, while riding on a set of all-black 22-inch alloy wheels.

As of now, neither Toyota nor Toyoda himself have unveiled the detailed specifications of the Century GRMN SUV. Given how several GR Sport cars benefit from minor mechanical changes, perhaps we can expect this sporty luxury SUV to gain similar upgrades, possibly in the form of a revised suspension setup, upgraded brakes, and more.

As for the powertrain, the standard Century SUV uses Toyota’s new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system that comprises a 3.5-litre V6 engine that is augmented with an e-CVT gearbox and the brand’s proprietary E-Four Advanced AWD system to deliver a total system output of 406 HP.

Should Toyota grant the Century GRMN SUV some power boost, we can expect this sporty SUV to go against other performance luxury SUVs such as the Aston Martin DBX 707, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, and many more.