Last year, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) said it was committed to a multi-pathway strategy to support Malaysia’s goal of becoming carbon-neutral nation by 2050. This year, the company is following up on this initiative by previewing some electrified models that could come our way in the near future at its Beyond Zero event. The ones featured here are hybrid versions of the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire, which aren’t available when both MPVs were launched here last October.
Instead, the Alphard came with a a T24A-FTS 2.4 litre turbocharged inline-four petrol engine that serves up 278 PS (275 hp or 205 kW) and 430 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the Vellfire is powered by a 2AR-FE 2.5 litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine making 182 PS (180 hp or 134 kW) and 235 Nm.
The hybrid powertrain for the MPV duo is a series-parallel system featuring a Dynamic Force engine, specifically the A25A-FXS. The 2.5 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol unit puts out 190 PS (188 hp or 140 kW) and 236 Nm and is augmented by a 5NM electric motor rated at 182 PS (180 hp) and 270 Nm.
The end result is a total system output of 250 PS (247 hp or 184 kW), with an electronic CVT (E-CVT) sending drive to the front wheels. There’s also an all-wheel drive (E-Four) version which adds a 4NM electric motor at the rear rated at 54 PS (54 hp or 40 kW) and 121 Nm – this is offered in Thailand.
For now, UMWT isn’t confirming if it will launch hybrid versions of the Alphard and Vellfire, although the two display cars sport dashcams that the company installs in its other models. The two non-hybrid versions of the MPVs are currently imported from Japan, and given the end of incentives for CBU hybrids many moons ago, pricing is a huge consideration.
The Alphard currently retails for RM538,000 on-the-road without insurance while the Vellfire is priced at RM438,000. If hybrid variants do come in, how much would you be willing to pay for them? For context, hybrid variants of the MPVs in Japan sell start from around 8.5 million yen (about RM272k).
GALLERY: 2024 Toyota Alphard Hybrid
GALLERY: 2024 Toyota Vellfire Hybrid
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what Malaysians actually want: Toyota RAV-4 hybrid, Toyota CH-R hybrid, Toyota Yaris Cross (Europe version) hybrid, Toyota Corolla hybrid, Toyota Prius…what we end up getting…this fridge. not to mention this is far from affordable (even rich people will think twice to even consider this 500k van). not sure i even understand Toyota in Malaysia. they either sell these completely out of reach cars, or cars Perodua sells too. make it make sense please.
ps// what on earth is even happening to the bZ4X? are they forever going to be ‘teasing’ that car lol
A friend just told me he recently inquired about the so called RM500k van that rich ppl wont buy and it was sold out until mid year.
@anonymous some ppl eat plain rice RM1
but some ppl wanted fried rice RM10
there’s also Thai fried rice RM15
Is your choice to pay
wouldn’t this be dependent on the global demand considering this is fully imported from Japan. remember when Toyota launched the Land Cruiser a few years ago it had a ridiculous waiting list too. so while i do understand there will still be buyers of this car in Malaysia, it also depends on how quickly production in Japan can make them (as they cater to the Japanese market and other select markets this car is offered). and there could also be priority markets where they ship the cars to first before malaysia so…
i mean your money your choice but it’s still a 500k van, albeit a luxurious one at that. it is very luxurious i give it that.
BZ4X exhibits what is wrong with Toyota EV thinking. Interior from 2010, slow charging, terrible range, expensive, poor performance (for an EV). Then Toyota declares, based on BZ4X sales that the public do not want EVs. They can’t sell them in China, even with massive discounts (up to 30% of RRP)
I’ll try and shed some light to your questions. Hope it helps. The list of cars you have would not be able to be priced for the Malaysian market. CBU importation taxes and requirements make it unattractive. Who’s going to buy a Prius for over 200k?
Furthermore back in the day there were exemptions for CBU hybrids which is no longer the case. What we do get is a CKD cross hybrid which is the right car based on demand locally.
Malaysia as a “developing” country with its taxation laws won’t get the euro spec Yaris cross or CHR etc as most people would go for a CKD BMW or something along those prices. Local assembly for TMC will be Daihatsu as you can see from sales volume. Those rebadged “perodua” you see.
Also the Bz4x is not a great car… TMC is behind in EV, wouldn’t stress if they bring it to Msia.
I would say, yes Malaysian is vocal in wishing of the availability of the aforementioned models. However if they’re offered, don’t think they’ll be many takers.
The latest Alphard’s pricing
will makes previous-gen Recon
(AH30 2015-2022) looks really poor
Even for the Harrier XU80, other markets get the hybrid AWD version, while we get the bottom feeder petrol FWD variant.
Original price is actually cheap, when sold in malaysia price become like crazy. UMWT is **********
Time for govt to change car again! Let’s go!!
now Alphard Vellfire also fuel saving for daily comofortable business class lounge driving with the 2.5EV.