According to a report by Autocar India, the eight-seat Alphard, currently in its third generation and facelifted last year, will be shown at the annual Auto Expo in New Delhi this coming Thursday (8 February), as a way of garnering public interest before a final decision is made.
"We are checking the feasibility of such a segment. People are importing plenty of Hiaces and Alphards through different routes for tours and traveler segments, so they do have a good market here," an official from Toyota India was quoted by the publication as saying.
In Japan, the Alphard is offered in a number of trim levels with power coming from a 132 kW / 235 Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine matched to a CVT, or a 3.5-litre V6 pumping out 221 kW and 361 Nm, connected to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. In the case of the hybrid, motivation comes from a 112 kW version of the former engine, combined with a 105 kW electric motor, and mated to a CVT as well.
If given the green light, the Alphard would slot in above the second generation Innova, known as the Innova Crysta, as Toyota India's flagship model, with only the hybrid model being rumoured for introduction.
While recent speculation is that Toyota is mulling a possible return of the Daihatsu Terios to South Africa, albeit badged as the mechanically identical Rush, don't expect the Alphard or its twin, the even more striking Vellfire, to become available anytime soon as possible rivals for the Mercedes-Benz Vito / V-class, Hyundai H-1 and Volkswagen Kombi / Caravelle.
IMAGES from paultan.org. Additional info sourced from indianautosblog.com
