Toyota Vellfire
| Toyota Alphard | |
|---|---|
_%E2%80%93_Frontansicht,_2._April_2018,_Hongkong.jpg) Toyota Alphard 350 V6 (GGH30W, Hong Kong) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Toyota |
| Also called |
|
| Production | 2002–present |
| Assembly | Japan: Inabe, Mie (Toyota Auto Body)[1][2] |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Minivan |
| Body style | 5-door minivan |
| Layout | |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Toyota Granvia / Grand HiAce (XH10) |
The Toyota Alphard (Japanese: トヨタ・アルファード, Hepburn: Toyota Arufādo) is a minivan produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota since 2002. It is available as a seven or eight-seater with petrol and hybrid engine options. Hybrid variants have been available since 2003, which incorporates Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. It is Toyota's flagship minivan.[3]
Toyota Vellfire (Japanese: トヨタ・ヴェルファイア, Hepburn: Toyota Verufaia) has been available, which is marketed as a sportier alternative to the Alphard and exclusively marketed by the Netz Store dealership chain until 2020. Since 2019, a modified and more upscale version of the model has been sold as the Lexus LM.
The vehicle was named after Alphard,[4] the brightest star in the constellation Hydra. The Alphard wears a special front emblem which depicts the lowercase alpha letter.[5] A prominent design feature of the Alphard is its shield-like grille, which it's had since the launch of the AH30 generation in 2015.
The name "Vellfire" was derived from "velvet" and "fire" to emphasize "smooth" and "passionate" as characteristics of the vehicle.[6] Starting from the AH30 generation, the Vellfire has been given aggressive styling to reflect being the sportier version of the Alphard. As of the AH40 generation, the Vellfire received its own unique insignia in the form of a stylized 'V', in an effort to further distinguish it from its twin.
References
[edit]- ^ Suzuki, Masato (26 January 2015). "新型トヨタ・アルファード／ヴェルファイア発売" [All-new Toyota Alphard/Vellfire launched]. Car Graphic. WebCG. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
- ^ "Affiliates (Toyota wholly-owned subsidiaries)-Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd". Toyota Motor Corporation. 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ "Toyota 'Alphard' Minivan Reborn with 'Vellfire' Companion" (Press release). Toyota. 12 May 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ "75 Years of TOYOTA | Vehicle Lineage Chart | Data: Origin of a car's name". Toyota. 2012.
- ^ "アルファードのエンブレムのモチーフはなに？" [What is the motif of the Alphard emblem?]. CARTUNEマガジン | 車のカスタム、パーツ情報から日常ケア情報まで自動車情報を網羅 (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ "TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION GLOBAL WEBSITE | 75 Years of TOYOTA | Vehicle Lineage Chart | Data: Origin of a car's name". www.toyota-global.com. Retrieved 7 June 2023.