This week Lexus Australia confirmed it will bring the just-released new-generation LM luxury people mover to the local market. Which dramatically shortens the odds of Toyota’s Alphard, the people mover the premium newcomer is based on, also appearing in local showrooms. An all-new, fourth-generation version of the evergreen ‘mini van’, and its slightly narrower Vellfire twin-under-the skin, is due to be unveiled in the first half of this year.
Grainy images of the new Alphard and
Vellfire have leaked online, showing much sharper aero-influenced exterior
designs, while media in China and Taiwan was also recently given glimpses of
the new vehicles in a pre-launch press presentation.
BestCarWeb in Japan has taken things one
step further with detailed renders based on those images and additional shots
of the car’s dash layout and distinctive partial glass roof. With the Lexus LM
and new Alphard sharing drivetrains and riding on the same ‘TNGA’ platform, the
task of certifying the latter for Australian Design Rule compliance has been
made that much easier.
As does adoption of the full ‘Toyota
Safety Sense’ ADAS suite featuring active tech including AEB, adaptive cruise,
front and rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure
warning, ‘Lane Trace Assist’, auto high beam and more. It’s likely the Alphard
would be powered by one or both of the turbo-petrol four-cylinder hybrid
powertrains set to be offered in the Lexus LM.
The efficiency-focused 2.5-litre
(A25A-FXS) ‘Atkinson Cycle’ turbo-petrol four-cylinder sends 140 kW/239 Nm to the
front wheels, with electric support coming in the shape of a series parallel
motor on the front or both axles (134 kW/270 Nm and 40 kW/121 Nm, respectively).
Combined power: 184 kW.
