Prices and initial specifications for the facelifted
Toyota Alphard and Vellfire, which are open for booking, have been revealed on
UMW Toyota Motor’s website. The revised luxury MPVs, which gain a new design, a
few additional features and a new V6 in the case of the Alphard, are pricier
than before.
Equipped with the same 2.5 litre engine as before,
the Vellfire is priced at RM 350,800, around RM 5,600 more expensive than the
outgoing model. The Alphard, meanwhile, retails at RM 429,800 for the standard
3.5 litre model and RM 540,800 for the 3.5 Executive Lounge, RM 26,400 and
RM 35,100 costlier respectively. All prices are on-the-road without insurance,
inclusive of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.
The biggest change – at least as far as the Alphard
is concerned – is under the bonnet, where you’ll find a new 2GR-FKE 3.5 litre
V6 with D-4S direct injection and VVT-iW. Outputs have been bumped up
significantly to 300 PS at 6,600 rpm and 361 Nm of torque between 4,600 and
4,700 rpm, increases of 29 PS and 21 Nm respectively. A new eight-speed Direct
Shift automatic transmission replaces the previous six-speed unit.
Toyota claims a fuel consumption figure of between
10.4 and 10.6 km per litre on the Japanese JC08 cycle, down from 9.5 km per
litre previously. The Vellfire’s 2AR-FE 2.5 litre Dual VVT-i four-cylinder
engine, making 180 PS at 6,000 rpm and 235 Nm at 4,100 rpm and paired to a CVT,
has been carried over unchanged. All models make greater use of structural adhesives
as well as high-rigidity glass adhesives for increased body rigidity,
contributing to better handling stability and ride comfort.
Other changes are largely cosmetic in nature, with
both the Alphard and Vellfire gaining a redesigned front fascia. The former
receives an even more prominent full-height grille, with chrome trim that moves
outward to bisect the headlights. Those headlights themselves – self-levelling
LED units with cornering lights and LED daytime running lights – have also been
given new internal graphics.
The Vellfire gets a giant chrome plated
grille and triangular fog light surrounds, giving it an even more distinctive
look. Lastly, there are new tail lights (with square light guides in the case
of the Vellfire) and tailgate garnish, plus a new 18-inch wheel design.
Inside, there’s a new instrument cluster design,
plus new standard features including a Qi wireless smartphone charger and a new
digital, camera-based rear-view mirror called the full display mirror (FDM),
first seen on the new Lexus LS.
Otherwise, kit count remains largely identical, with
the Vellfire coming with keyless entry, push-button start, powered sliding
doors, leather upholstery, ventilated and power-adjustable front seats,
second-row captain’s seats, front passenger and second-row Ottomans, a front
sunroof and rear moonroof, a DVD-AVN navigation system with a seven-inch
touchscreen and eight speakers.
The standard Alphard gets the same amount of kit,
but the Executive Lounge receives VIP second-row seats that are wider and have
powered seat recline and Ottoman adjustment, as well as ventilation. It also
gets semi-aniline leather upholstery, a larger eight-inch touchscreen for the
navigation system and a 17-speaker JBL sound system.
Safety-wise, all models now get a blind spot monitor
(BSM) and rear cross traffic alert (RCTA) to go with the usual seven airbags,
ABS with EBD and brake assist and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). However,
there’s no mention of the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assists, which
comes as standard in Japan.