Do You Know? 2012 TOYOTA ALPHARD

The Toyota Alphard is a full-size luxury MPV (minivan) produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota since 2002. It is available as a seven- or eight-seater with a 2.5 and 3.5 litre gasoline engine in multiple different model lines including Alphard GF, Alphard Executive Lounge, Alphard SC and various hybrid versions which uses the 2.5 litre engine along with an electrical motor and batteries. The vehicle was named after Alphard, the brightest star in the constellation Hydra. The Alphard is primarily made for the Japanese market, but is also sold in Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Oman, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and Myanmar. 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. Toyota also makes a sportier version of the Alphard, called the Vellfire; the Alphard is available new at Toyopet Store Japanese dealerships, while the Vellfire is available at Netz Store locations. The Toyota Spade/Toyota Sienta/Toyota Noah are smaller MPV are more affordable and more family oriented. The Japanese Government enforces dimension regulations and annually applies a road tax, and the Alphard/Vellfire incur higher than average operating costs.