Toyota Motor Company has launched its fourth-generation Alphard and Vellfire MPVs in Japan, with a hybrid-heavy powertrain line-up in addition to the newest options and know-how the Japanese model has to supply.

The Alphard nameplate has lengthy been positioned because the “final Toyota minivan” for the reason that authentic launched in 2002.

Accordingly, these new-gen individuals movers have been designed and engineered in pursuit of the “pleasure of comfy mobility”, which Toyota describes as “areas the place all passengers may share consideration and appreciation”.

Though the Alphard and Vellfire have by no means been formally offered domestically by means of the Toyota Australia seller community, the upmarket individuals movers have proved well-liked with gray importers.

Lexus will even introduce the Alphard/Vellfire-based LM earlier than the tip of 2023, marking the posh arm’s first assault on the premium MPV section in Australia.

Talking with CarExpert, a spokesperson for Toyota Australia wouldn’t provide any indication on whether or not we would see Toyota comply with Lexus into bringing its premium MPVs Down Below.

“Toyota is at all times contemplating thrilling new fashions as they grow to be obtainable for our market, however now we have no bulletins to make in the present day,” the spokesperson mentioned.

Underpinning the fourth-generation Toyota Alphard and Vellfire is the TNGA-Ok unibody structure, which underpins a variety of automobiles together with the Toyota Camry, Kluger (Highlander) and RAV4, in addition to the Lexus ES, NX and RX.

Which means each front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variations can be found in Japan, together with a spread of four-cylinder powertrains comprising 2.5-litre petrol, 2.5-litre hybrid and 2.4-litre turbocharged hybrid choices relying on variant.

Toyota has additionally confirmed it plans to supply plug-in hybrid variations of the Alphard/Vellfire in future, however additional particulars are scant.

In response to the corporate’s media launch, the brand new chassis adopts straight rockers and a V-shaped brace within the rear-lower part which improves rigidity by 50 per cent in comparison with the earlier technology; whereas optimised use of structural adhesives additional improve manoeuvrability and stability.

New shock absorbers that “mechanically regulate damping pressure based mostly on the frequency of vibrations transmitted from the highway floor” additionally assist to minimise vibrations skilled within the cabin.

They’re aided by rubber bushings within the attachment parts of the second-row seat cushion frames and the usage of reminiscence foam within the backrests and armrests, and Toyota says the array of developments has resulted in an approximate 30 per cent discount in vibrations.

Toyota has additionally added extra sound-reducing measures to additional enhance refinement.

Newly developed low-noise tyres and extra sound-absorbing supplies assist to cut back highway noise, whereas optimising the shapes of sections of the bonnet, mirrors and A-pillars uncovered to wind assist cut back wind noise.

“By suppressing the quantity of noise generated, and by establishing a balanced soundwave frequency, the inside guarantees a lovely quietness, akin to being in the course of a forest,” Toyota says in its media launch.

Area between the front- and second-row seats, and the second- and third-row seats, has elevated by 5mm and 10mm respectively.

This has been achieved by means of modifications to the driving place and the development of the second-row seats, in addition to making each the facet quarter trim on the third row seats and the backdoor trim thinner.

New options embrace a brand new ‘Tremendous-Lengthy Overhead Console’ by means of the centre of the ceiling, which homes varied issues like air-conditioning vents, lighting and diverse switchgear.

Beforehand, these had been situated alongside each side of the ceiling – Toyota claims this improves “comfort and operability”, and in addition permits occupants in any seat to open home windows and regulate lighting on the other facet of the automobile’s inside.

Toyota has additionally targeted on improved accessibility, with the Alphard and Vellfire changing into the primary fashions within the model’s line-up to characteristic ‘Common Steps’ on each side of the automobile, which the corporate says makes it simpler for young children and the aged to enter and exit the cabin.

The steps emerge roughly 220mm above floor degree when the doorways are open, which lowers the peak of step one for passengers getting into and exiting the automobile. Lengthy grip handles are situated on the C-pillars for added comfort.

New shades are littered all through the cabin too. Toyota’s first pull-down facet shades can be found for the facet home windows, whereas the moonroof has independently operable left- and right-hand facet shades.

Toyota additionally presents a Welcab assisted mobility model of the Alphard, which contains a Aspect Carry-Up Tilt seat that swivels up and out the facet doorways for elevated comfort for these requiring mobility help.

“To assist occupants rise up from a sitting place, the seat additionally tilts, whereas the double-folding footrest reduces load on the occupant’s knees,” Toyota provides.

“For added comfort, the lift-up seat additionally contains a new seatbelt plate arm to make the seatbelt simpler to tug out, and a brand new distant management holder.”

The lift-up seat has additionally been engineered to minimise protrusion out of the automobile when in use, which permits it for use even in tight areas.

Each nameplates additionally provide the newest in Toyota Security Sense driver help and lively security techniques.

Intra-Lane Steering Help and Deceleration Help are new options for the fourth-generation vans.

The previous “predicts driver inputs and adjusts the steering counterforce to offer assist for smoother driving by limiting pointless operations”.

The latter, in the meantime, “supplies help for early automobile deceleration, enabling the driving force to show left or proper with better ease” when the automobile detects when it’s approaching an intersection and the driving force releases the accelerator and signifies.

Additional, new Toyota Teammate capabilities – the model’s umbrella phrases for “driver-assistance applied sciences that present assist for parking and in site visitors jams” – embrace a brand new distant parking perform that’s accessible through a smartphone app, in addition to a site visitors jam help characteristic known as Superior Drive, which manages acceleration, deceleration and steering between 0 and 40km/h.

The Alphard supplies a strong base for the Vellfire, a extra highly effective and driver-focused model of Toyota’s ‘final minivan’.

Past its darker, extra aggressive exterior styling bundle, the Vellfire completely presents the choice of the model’s new 2.4-litre turbocharged hybrid system, already seen within the likes of the Lexus RX500h and LM500h, in addition to Hybrid Max variations of Toyota fashions provided abroad such because the Crown and Grand Highlander.

Changing the earlier 3.5-litre V6, the T24A-FTS turbocharged hybrid drivetrain presents elevated torque at low engine speeds, and has a shortened “accelerator pedal stroke”. The engine has additionally been tuned to ship a extra sporting sound when accelerating “throughout regular RPM vary”, whereas low-speed noise has been lowered.

Toyota doesn’t quote outputs for the Vellfire 2.4T, however within the associated Grand Highlander the Hybrid Max model develops 270kW and 542Nm.

Below the pores and skin there’s additionally a Entrance Efficiency Brace which connects the radiator assist and facet members for enhanced physique rigidity and offering “excellent responsiveness.

The Alphard and Vellfire will proceed to be produced at Toyota’s Inabe Plant in Japan, with base gross sales quantity within the home projected to sit down round 8500 models monthly.

Of those 8500 month-to-month gross sales, 70 per cent will likely be accounted for by Alphard fashions, with the Vellfire taking on the remaining 30 per cent.

Whereas the Alphard is primarily produced for the Japanese market, the flagship individuals mover has additionally been offered in varied different Asian markets like China, in addition to Russia and the Center East.

Would you prefer to see the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire formally offered in Australia?