VIDEO: Interview with 2016 Toyota Alphard and Vellfire chief engineer – changes made for Malaysian market

All-New Toyota Alphard and Toyota Vellfire

Sleek, solid and luxurious – watch Chief Engineer, Kenichi Yoshioka as he explains a host of paramount features of the All-New Toyota Alphard and Vellfire, specially developed for the Malaysian market

Posted by Toyota Malaysia on Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Toyota Malaysia’s official Facebook page has just posted this video of an interview with the 2016 Toyota Alphard and Vellfire chief engineer, Kenichi Yoshioka. In the clip, he explains quite a few interesting details on the pair of new MPVs, including changes that have been made specifically for the Malaysian market.

“Though our cars look the same from the outside, they are customised inside for each (market) requirement, especially for the engine, ECU, tyre choices and suspension,” he said. Weather and road conditions, fuel quality and customer usage are all considered for each market, including Malaysia.

To comply with local regulations, our Alphard and Vellfire get larger wing mirrors too – important as “Malaysia has a lot of motorcyclists.” As overheating can be a problem with our high temperatures, the official models get a unique ECU tuning. A new head unit with English buttons and local maps are also added.

006 Fortuner OT Leaflet R4

Apparently, Toyota has sold over 108,000 units of the models since its launch in Japan last year, making it the fastest-selling versions yet. A new approach – drastically different to the model before – called “new spacious luxury saloon” has been adopted this time, as the target is to make a luxurious vehicle rather than a traditional MPV.

A new “grandeluxe” concept focus on four pillars: luxury performance, robust coolness, premium easy access and executive lounge experience. Watch the full interview above for explanations of each of the pillars here.

In Malaysia, the Toyota Alphard 3.5 is priced at RM419,900, while the Alphard 3.5 Executive Lounge goes for RM519,900. As for the sole Vellfire variant available here, the 2.5, that is priced at RM355,000. All prices are on-the-road including GST and insurance. A manufacturer-backed five-year, unlimited mileage warranty is also included.

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Hafriz Shah

Preferring to drive cars rather than desks, Hafriz Shah ditched his suit and tie to join the ranks of Malaysia's motoring hacks. A car's technical brilliance is completely lost on him, appreciating character-making quirks more. When not writing this ego trip of a bio, he's usually off driving about aimlessly, preferably in a car with the right combination of three foot pedals and six gears.

 

Comments

  • Toyota liteace on Jun 08, 2016 at 10:27 pm

    So expensive , the chief engineer should talk about why price in malaysia very expensive in others country so cheap , after 5 years no body care you drive half million mpv

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 61 Thumb down 22
  • Burong on Jun 08, 2016 at 10:38 pm

    I believe parallel importer has many disadvantage over local distributed vellfire.

    But does the money paid justified for these advantages? It all come down to the sales figure achieved end of this year.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 1
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Jun 08, 2016 at 11:52 pm

    parallel import i can get vellfire with 3.5 engine..umw tak ada

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 2
    • I don’t think Vellfire 3.5 is avaluable anymore for this new model… Higher end model is now only Alphard…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
      • Sorry, just checked. It seems 3.5 V6 still available for Vellfire new model.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
    • hailthepurist on Jun 09, 2016 at 10:51 am

      still a recond, from macau..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • DonkeyKong on Jun 09, 2016 at 12:13 am

    It should come standard with speed limiters and radar-based autonomous braking that slow these vans down where there are vehicles 100 meters ahead of them. This is also to customize it for the Malaysian market where usually it’s brainless snobs with no road manners that drive these two oversized bread-seller vans.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 47 Thumb down 2
    • camtakpro on Jun 09, 2016 at 8:09 am

      Best if they have tech to prevent the driver hogging the right lane with these ugly squarish monster and blocked the entire view.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 29 Thumb down 2
    • I like to think otherwise, usually people do that because you are blocking their only lane, or and your pace is not following traffic’s flow at that time and place. Just be considerate. Not the vehicle to be blamed la…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 21
  • This alpat drinks fuel like lembu minum air

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 2
  • More to advertisement to me rather than information.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 2
  • camtakpro on Jun 09, 2016 at 8:12 am

    WTF with the
    Luxury White Pearl paint for RM848 vs
    non-Luxury White Pearl paint still for RM848.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
  • azrai on Jun 09, 2016 at 8:18 am

    our Alphard and Vellfire get larger wing mirrors too – important as “Malaysia has a lot of motorcyclists.” So it will easier for the motorcyclist to kick the mirror if needed.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 46 Thumb down 3
  • alphard on Jun 09, 2016 at 8:35 am

    advantage of a lot trd stickers and cutting down specs with skyhigh price

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
  • Tong Sampah on Jun 09, 2016 at 9:04 am

    that’s half a million joke..by bolehland’s nap..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 4
  • Wow…recon one has illegal wing mirror. So danger.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 3
  • buy xc90 better. Go to H toyota

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
  • applegreen on Jun 09, 2016 at 9:58 am

    Pay half a million and get bigger wing mirrors! this is joke of the day

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 2
  • Ollie on Jun 09, 2016 at 11:10 am

    We have possibly the most apathetic public when it comes to political matters, and this extends to our car-buying habits as well. Unfathomable that this many Vellfires and Alphards are on the road in Malaysia (thousands?) for these kinda specs and prices. And they’re both glorified “bread-seller vans” *nice quote from above* that are brazenly ugly. 99.9% of these are fully-tinted and driven by complete imbeciles as well. If ever someone makes public a list of Alphard/Vellfire drivers, I really would like to see for myself who these people are.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 0
  • UMW TOYOTA on Jun 09, 2016 at 11:27 am

    our alphard vellfire give you 5yrs warranty..recon no warranty..rosak engine your hal.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
    • Abang..you kira savings difference dulu between UMW and recon. Berapa kali you can enjin rosak with recon.

      Alphard is popular in malaysia only because of the recon price and most alphard are not even new. They are generally 3 yrs old plus.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 4
      • Myname on Jun 09, 2016 at 7:13 pm

        Umw give unlimited km with 5 years warranty.recond 1 year. Umw already tuned the audio system,handling and ecu with malaysian use.can u know and how many times when the engine will rosak ? As i see recond dealer sell vellfire more expensive than alphard because vellfire more demanding.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • lowyat on Jun 09, 2016 at 2:15 pm

    literally buying a condo to drive.

    its a freking caravan with no kitchen, sink, toilet

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
 

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