One look at the Toyota Century SUV, and sporty is probably the last word you’d have in mind to describe it. It’s big, bold, and opulent, just like a Century should, albeit the SUV version amps the lux factor even further.
It’s a jumbo SUV that practically has no sporting intentions. That said, that isn’t stopping Toyota from trying to give it more zing. Yes folks, the GR version of the Toyota Century has been confirmed for production. It was confirmed by none other than Akio Toyoda himself.
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More specifically, it will be badged as a GRMN. GRMN stands for Gazoo Racing Masters of the Nurburgring. It’s top-shelf stuff, and we can expect pretty serious upgrades over the standard model.
You’re probably wondering why there seems to be a need to make a high performance version of the Century SUV. If you take a look at the current state of the market right now, you shouldn’t be too surprised. Just about every automaker makes some variation of a fast crossover, particularly in the upper end of the price bracket.
Need proof? Bentley makes several sport versions of the Bentayga, and don’t forget the SVR versions of the Range Rover. With the Toyota Century GRMN, it wants to make a dent in that niche but profitable market.
Toyoda-san isn’t mentioning any specifics about it just yet. That said, the standard model already packs a punch under the hood. It comes with a 3.5-liter V6 with a plug-in hybrid arrangement. The result is a combined output of 406hp, strong numbers, but nowhere near the super SUVs from other automakers that punch out over 600hp.
For now, though, it’s a case of wait and see what kind of magic Gazoo Racing can perform on this high-riding land yacht. We don’t expect it a corner carver, but it should give some sports cars a good scare on a straight line.
