Spied: 2023 Toyota Alphard / Vellfire already in Thailand. Possible launch in Malaysia by end-2023?
Arvind · Jun 28, 2023 08:30 AM
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Toyota Alphard / Vellfire makes landfall in Thailand. Image
Less than a week after the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire celebrated their global debut, disguised units of these popular MPVs have already been spotted in neighbouring Thailand.
Scooped pictures picked up by Headlightmag show a 2023 Alphard / Vellfire being unloaded from a trailer before being driven away.
Though it is hard to make out which of the two models has been spotted, recent reports in Thailand suggest that both the Alphard and Vellfire will be launched as early as July or August 2023.
Based on the TNGA-K platform, the 2023 Alphard and Vellfire have been designed to offer more luxury, improved drivability and newer powertrains that now include hybrid and turbocharged engines as well.
Additionally, there's also greater distinction between the Alphard and Vellfire now.
The Alphard, which focuses on luxury and refinement, is powered by a 182 PS / 235 Nm 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder and CVT combo, carried over from the previous generation, and the 250 PS A25A-FXS 2.5-litre 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain (also offered on the Vellfire).
On the other hand, the Vellfire better caters to customers seeking driving pleasure, boasting the unique 279 PS / 430 Nm 2.4L turbo T24A-FTS turbocharged four-cylinder mated to an 8-speed automatic; which isn’t offered on the Alphard.
In Malaysia, sales of the outgoing Toyota Alphard/Vellfire were discontinued in January 2023.
UMW Toyota began offering local specifications version of the Toyota Alphard in 2014 with the AH20-generation model. Subsequently, in 2016, UMWT launched the then-new AH30-generation Alphard and Vellfire duo.
The spied shots of the 2023 Alphard / Vellfire draw further conclusion that Toyota isn’t wasting any time introducing their new luxury MPV duo in the ASEAN region.
Difference between Alphard (left) and Vellfire (right)
Following launches in Thailand, given both models are fully imported (CBU) from Japan, we’d place our bets on UMW Toyota Motor introducing the 2023 Toyota Alphard/Vellfire in Malaysia by end-2023 or early-2024.
Arvind can't remember a time when he didn't wheel around a HotWheels car. This love evolved into an interest in Tamiya and RC cars and finally the real deal 1:1 scale stuff. Passion finally lead to formal training in Mechanical Engineering. Instead of the bigger picture, he obsesses with the final drive ratio and spring rates of cars and spends the weekends wondering why a Perodua Myvi is so fast.
