Toyota Alphard

he Toyota Alphard is a luxury MPV produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota since 2002. It is available as a seven or eight-seater with 2.4 and 3.0-litre gasoline engines in 3 different model lines – Alphard G, Alphard V and Alphard Hybrid. The Alphard is primarily made for the Japanese market, but is also sold in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Bahrain,[2] and Malaysia. The vehicle was named after the Alphard, the brightest star in the constellation Hydra.

Toyota states its “E-Four electric 4WD system that regulates a rear-mounted, rear-wheel-propelling electric motor and coordinates electric power distribution to all four wheels. An ECB (Electrically Controlled Brake system) provides efficient wheel-by-wheel brake control.”

The full-size Alphard Hybrid MPV qualifies as an Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV), achieving levels 75% lower emissions than the Japanese government’s 2000 benchmark. The 2.4-litre gasoline engine has been developed specifically for use in Toyota’s hybrid systems and features a high-expansion ratio cycle that raises efficiency and reduces friction.

In 2006, a Royal Lounge Alphard was introduced. It is a luxurious, four-seat version of the Alphard. Its traditional competitor from Nissan is the Elgrand.