After evaluating the Toyota Alphard for India for a long time, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has decided to bring in the Toyota Vellfire instead. The company has never showcased this premium minivan in the country or talked about it before. It plans to launch this model in October this year.
Here's everything you need to know about the Toyota Vellfire:-
A decade-old luxury people mover
Following the good amount of success and positive response which the Alphard received internationally, the first-gen Vellfire was launched along with the second-gen Alphard in 2008 as its more stylish cousin. The current, second-gen model was introduced in 2015 and received a facelift in 2017.
Costs the same as the Toyota Alphard
In Japan, the Toyota Vellfire and the Toyota Alphard have the same starting price. It's not like just because the former has a better visual appeal it commands a premium. This is probably the only reasonable explanation to why TKM is launching it instead of the Toyota Alphard, which it had showcased at Auto Expo 2018. Perhaps the sharper and more aggressive design will help the company market it better.
On the inside, the Toyota Vellfire comes with the same dashboard and cabin design as well as seating layout as the Alphard. However, the former comes with all-black theme with silver inserts as compared to the dual-tone black and beige theme with faux wood inserts in the Alphard.
Specifications
The Toyota Vellfire is 4,935 mm long, 1,850 mm wide and 1,935 mm/1,950 mm tall. It has a 3,000 mm wheelbase and a 160 mm/165 mm/170 mm ground clearance. Internationally, it is available with the choices of a 2.5-litre petrol engine (182 PS/235 Nm) paired to a CVT, a 3.5-litre petrol engine (301 PS/361 Nm) linked to an 8-speed AT and a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, which consists of a 2.5-litre petrol engine (152 PS/206 Nm), the 2JM electric motor (143 PS/270 Nm) and the 2FM electric motor (68 PS/139 Nm). India will get it with only with the hybrid powertrain. This hybrid powertrain is coupled to a CVT, has four-wheel drive as standard, and promises a fuel economy (JC08) between 18.4-19.4 km/l.
Loaded with features
Given that the Toyota Vellfire is positioned as a premium offering, it is loaded with a lot of bells and whistles. Some of these features that will be offered in India will include LED headlights with cornering lamps, sequential turn indicators, powered extendable Ottoman full recline seats, seat ventilation, heating and memory functions, twin moonroof, power slide & back doors, 7 airbags, multi-colour ambient lighting, individual seat tables and Black/Flaxen interior. Internationally, it is offered in 7- and 8-seat versions.
Expected price and competition
The Toyota Vellfire will compete with the Mercedes V-Class in India. Like its only rival, it will be imported through the CBU route. The price is expected to be around INR 75-80 lakh (ex-showroom).
To be sold in limited numbers
TKM will have only 200 units of the Toyota Vellfire on sale initially.
