Scoop: Dealers in Japan stop taking Toyota Alphard orders, next-gen to be unveiled in May 2023?
CY Foong · Sep 28, 2022 02:15 PM
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The Toyota Alphard might be every aspiring important person’s favourite set of wheels but the loaf of luxury minivan is turning 7 years old in its current generation. Once the sales darling of Toyota, the Alphard is facing a slump in Japan as August sales data revealed that it had slipped out of the Top 20.
Placing 22nd last month with 2,133 units sold, the reason for the Alphard’s slipping demand is due to the ongoing supply chain issue along with most dealers putting a hold on further orders for the mobile breadbox.
The latter is according to sources revealed to Best Car Web and it has published yet another rendering of what the next-gen Alphard could look like in front.
Sources also informed the Japanese publication that the fourth-gen Alphard could make its debut in May 2023 and it is rumoured to be developed on the TNGA platform. It’s likely that this would be the TNGA-K platform which is also used on the Toyota Harrier and the all-new Toyota Crown.
The Crown's 2.5-litre hybrid powertrain shown
Speaking of the Crown, the next-gen AH40 Alphard might share a few features and powertrains as the rebooted generation of Toyota’s longest-running nameplate. Best Car Web speculates that the naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre (186 PS/221 Nm) and turbocharged 2.4-litre (272 PS/460 Nm) Dynamic Force hybrid engines could be carried over into the all-new breadwagon.
Four-wheel-drive (4WD) variants will be offered for the AH140 Alphard along with the front-wheel-drive (FWD) models just like the outgoing Alphard.
In terms of features, not many details have been revealed but the Japanese automotive publication is expecting that it would be similar to or better than what is being offered in the Crown.
While the Alphard is continuing its journey to threaten other road users with its grand look, the Vellfire could be killed off in the next generation. With Toyota streamlining its model line-up, the sportier twin of the Alphard which was initially sold exclusively at Netz Store dealers is likely to be discontinued.
Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.
