The new Century's chief engineer and chief designer continue to share the inside story of development, delving deeper into the model's "inheritance and evolution."
Traditional Japanese aesthetics in every detail
The spacious, functional interior is infused throughout with traditional Japanese aesthetics, brought to life by the craftsmanship of skilled artisans. This is a key aspect passed down from past generations of the Century.
One example is the embroidery on the seats and door panels. Suga-nui is a traditional Japanese needlework technique used to add luster and depth to patterns on kimono and other textiles.
In the latest Century, suga-nui served as a reference for developing new stitching and thread techniques. The result is a simple yet richly textured finish, unlike anything that has come before.
Sonoda
For the interior, our aim was a luxurious simplicity that is both beautiful and gratifying.
We were also quite particular about the embroidery. If you look closely, for example, you can see an underlying rhombus pattern, associated with longevity and protection from misfortune. This finish was inspired by the shape of arrow feathers, which are considered auspicious.
More than merely decorative, it also embodies the Century’s unique message.
The interior design concept of luxurious simplicity is epitomized by the exquisite wood paneling in the instrument panel and center console, located in front of the rear seats. These were developed jointly with craftsmen from Yamaha, a maker of musical instruments.
Sonoda
These panels are made from the wooden boards used for grand pianos, underlaid with an aluminum sheet. We created the stripes by laser cutting to expose the metal.
The beautiful pattern formed by interweaving these two different materials, natural wood and aluminum, changes subtly with the angle of the light.
We achieved this by combining craftsmanship honed through the making of grand pianos with advanced laser fabrication techniques.
Tanaka
We are grateful to Yamaha for sharing the Century’s monozukuri vision of creating quality products through Japanese craftsmanship.