【Japan Mobility Show 2025】Century and Lexus LS Get Major Overhauls!

The Japan Mobility Show, which succeeded the Tokyo Motor Show and launched in 2023, is currently being held at Tokyo Big Sight from October 31 to November 9, 2025. Based on past experience, I expected the first half to be crowded, but figured weekdays a bit later in the event would be manageable. The turnout, however, was staggering. Popular booths, like the Century, had a 45-minute wait just to enter. I never imagined it would be this packed.

The biggest surprise at this Japan Mobility Show was likely the announcement that “Century will become its own brand.” This repositioning establishes the hierarchy from highest to lowest: Century, Lexus, GR, Toyota, Daihatsu. Going forward, Century will become the top-tier brand, challenging the high-end market as the “Top of Top” and “One of One.”

Regarding the reason for making Century independent, Toyota Chairman Toyoda explained, “Century’s place within the company wasn’t clearly defined until now.” Indeed, Toyota exists, and its premium brand is Lexus. But the pinnacle Century was within Toyota. Its position was ambiguous. This major reform has clarified that, making Century a completely unique entity.

With the addition of the coupe, the Century now offers three body types: the formal sedan, the business-casual SUV, and the alluring coupe. The coupe aims to evoke the image of a car suited for a scene like arriving at a party venue dressed in formal attire.

The body color is Hi-iro (crimson). This traditional Japanese color evokes the image of a phoenix. Traditional Japanese elements and culture are incorporated throughout, such as Edo-style metal engraving on the emblem and Nishijin-ori fabric for the seats.

Although a coupe, it remains fundamentally a chauffeur car. The driver’s side features two seats, front and rear, while the passenger side has one seat – an unprecedented three-seat configuration. The passenger side offers vast space front and rear, with full reclining capability. Additionally, the passenger side features sliding doors that open both front and rear.

Given its coupe nature, while it serves as a chauffeur car on weekdays, Lexus also wants owners to enjoy it as a driver’s car on weekends, pursuing FUN TO DRIVE to the utmost. While few Japanese new cars have surprised me in recent years, this Century Coupe is nothing but thrilling.

The sporty model of the Century sedan unveiled at Japan Mobility Show 2025 is the “Century GRMN.” It is said to be a development model with an eye toward commercialization. If realized, it would mark the birth of the Century’s first sports model.

Meanwhile, Lexus’s move is sad news for sedan lovers. A six-wheeled car. This is the LS concept model.

The LS is Lexus’s flagship. L stands for LUXURY, S for SEDAN. That’s precisely why this transformation far exceeded expectations. It seems this change will redefine the LS’s S to stand for SPACE, not SEDAN. For sedan fans, this is a real kick in the teeth.

JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW

The Japan Mobility Show is an event aiming to build a rich and dream-filled mobility society, transcending the automotive industry and involving many sectors like IT, communications, and electronics. This year saw the addition of a new mobility-related section, with a record total of over 500 companies and organizations participating.

Text and Photos｜VIP Style Editorial Department