Friday, February 13, 2015

Toyota Alphard 2015



The country’s best-selling luxury van is getting its most daring makeover yet. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the all-new 2015 Alphard. Introduced in its home country of Japan not more than a week ago, the all-new Alphard features a much sharper and aggressive styling to go with a new platform that promises an improved ride and NVH isolation.
Outside, the all-new Alphard looks decisively more aggressive with its overly large chrome grille that extends from the top to the lower part of the bumper. New headlamps and fog lamps complete the look. Observers will be quick to know that the Alphard’s new design echoes other recent JDM (Japan Domestic Models) such as the Crown. At the back, sweeping new tail lights and a larger rear windshield echo the dramatic change.
Inside, it benefits from a reduced seat access height which is lower by 50-mm compared to before. The rear door opening has also been widened by 70-mm for easier ingress/egress. A linear illumination system has been adopted on the ceiling which can be adjusted in both brightness and color (16 available). The gauges now feature a 4.2-inch TFT colored multi-information display sandwiched between the tachometer and speedometer.
At the back, the third row seats has been enlarged in terms of available knee room which Toyota says is largest in its class while a 147-liter storage area located under the luggage room floor improves cargo hauling capability. Along with the sliding third row, the Alphard can now swallow six golf bags (four lengthways, two sideways) can be stored in the luggage room and six items of hand luggage can be packed in the recessed storage space. Other luxury amenities include roller-type sunshades on the rear door and quarter glass windows and an 8-speaker audio system.
Under the Alphard’s much more aggressive skin lies a combination of new and tried-and-tested technology. The engine, the 3.5-liter 24-valve V6 with Dual VVT-i is carried over but a new rear independent Double Wishbone suspension should give the Alphard a much plusher ride to go with its improved NVH. The 3.5-liter V6 is now the Alphard’s sole engine.

The all-new 2015 Alphard is now available in Black and Silver Metallic as well as a new shade, Luxury White Pearl. It’s now priced at P 3,292,000 and is available at all of Toyota’s 44 dealerships nationwide.