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2018 Toyota Century is a Marvel movie star car in waiting

Toyota's most-expensive model is a monument to its home country's unique take on high-end motoring. We think it'd make a great silver-screen star.

Chris Paukert
Following stints in TV news production and as a record company publicist, Chris spent most of his career in automotive publishing. Mentored by Automobile Magazine founder David E. Davis Jr., Paukert succeeded Davis as editor-in-chief of Winding Road, a pioneering e-mag, before serving as Autoblog's executive editor from 2008 to 2015. Chris is a Webby and Telly award-winning video producer and has served on the jury of the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. He joined the CNET team in 2015, bringing a small cache of odd, underappreciated cars with him.
Chris Paukert
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Wouldn't the new Toyota Century look outstanding starring in a future Marvel feature, or some retro-futurist dystopian film? 

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This is the third-generation Toyota Century, the first new model since 1997.

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The Century's restrained, upright aesthetic sets it apart on the road from everyday vehicles.

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Just 50 of these full-size luxury sedans are slated to be built each month, with no official export plans.

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Century owners rarely drive themselves, so most will never notice that their driver's accommodations aren't quite as nice as their own in the rear.

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The back seats feature power articulation, heating, cooling and massage.

Note the center armrest touchscreen controls and the 11.7-inch screen for watching TV, movies or business presentations.

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The new Century packs a 5.0-liter V8 engine with hybrid assist. It borrows its driveline from the last-generation Lexus LS.

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The new Century rides atop model-specific 18-inch wheels and tires, both of which are specially designed for low noise.

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Options are very limited on the new Century. While Bentley or Rolls-Royce or Mercedes will happily build you a neon-paint custom model, Toyota takes a far simpler and more restrained approach.

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The Century's trunk features plenty of room for golf bags or... other things.

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It's notoriously difficult to find parking spots in Tokyo, but at least that's your chauffeur's problem.

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The Century's lighting looks deceptively simple, but feature intricate innards and LED illumination.

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Regarded as Japanese royalty, the Century is known as the preferred transport for the Imperial Family, CEOs and even the Yakuza, the island nation's legendary organized crime organization.

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The Century is only available in four shades of paint, all of them look miles deep.

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Traditional craftsmanship and restrained elegance is the Century's calling card.

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Not wanting to disrupt the Century's classic appearance, Toyota has done a particularly good job hiding this new model's ADAS sensors.

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Notice that there's no Toyota badge on the back like other models.

Instead, deck lid lettering proudly spells out C-E-N-T-U-R-Y.

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The Century has massive street presence, and not just because Japanese cars tend to be smaller.

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The Century features self-leveling air suspension for pillowy soft ride comfort.

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Special low-noise 18-inch alloy wheels come standard. The multi-spoke design almost looks a bit like a wire wheel.

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Phoenix wheel centers are painstakingly crafted.

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Notice the way the entire lower perimeter of the Century is delicately ringed in chrome.

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LED illumination is standard.

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The new Century receives a raft of advanced safety systems, including auto-brake with pedestrian detection.

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Even the Century's badges exude old-school cool.

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Stanchion-mounted side mirrors feature turn-signal repeaters.

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That knob or paddle-like protrusion is actually a door handle.

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Here's another view.

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Keep clicking or scrolling for more images of the new 2018 Toyota Century.

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Lucky rear-seat occupants can motorize the front passenger seat forward with the push of a button to maximize rear legroom.

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Yep, that's a power-deployable ottoman.

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You can even watch live TV in the back seat.

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Each B-pillar features a built-in shoe horn holder.

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Center console drawers feature a delicious damped action.

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Golfer and Yakuza-spec trunk space.

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Ever since the Lexus LFA super coupe was been put out to pasture, the Century reclaimed its mantle as the most-expensive new model offered by Toyota Motor Co.

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