Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko decided to replace their 30 year old "Nissan Prince Royal," with a new ride: a customized Toyota eight-seater limousine with a 5.0 V12 engine, that costs a mere 52.5 million yen (455.000 USD).
Inside, the Century Royal features granite stone in the steps, wool fabric for its seats and Japanese hand-crafted paper for the lighting systems on the ceiling. Officials report that the Imperial Couple will begin using their limousine in Aug. 15, when they will attend a memorial ceremony for the war dead in Tokyo.
The Century Royal, Toyota's most luxurious model, is produced in limited numbers mainly for corporate executives and government leaders, and there are no plans to sell the special imperial version to the public.