2023-07-28 05:53:44
The new Alphard and the new Vellfire that have been made separately
The new Alphard and new Vellfire were a series of surprises and surprises from the stage of the presentation. Starting with the TNGA GA-K platform, the body has been strengthened. Two types of structural adhesives were used to achieve high rigidity and vibration absorption, while anti-vibration rubber was attached to the second row seats so that they floated from the floor. According to Mr. Yoshioka, the head of development, “The concept is to provide customers with the happiness of comfortable transportation.” It is said that the aim is not only to improve the comfort of the rear seats, but also to reduce driver fatigue.
What was even more shocking was that the driving taste changed with the Alphard and Vellfire. In the past, it was only a skin change for the appearance, but the new Vellfire has a front performance brace, and it seems that the springs, dampers, and tire sizes have been set in a sporty direction. Can the difference be felt? I would like to take a closer look at the difference between the two.
New Alphard New Vellfire
The new Alphard Executive Lounge creates a unique worldview
Adopted TNGA GA-K minivan platform from new Alphard Executive Lounge E-Four
The first car I got into at the test drive event was the highest grade Executive Lounge E-Four (8.72 million yen), which can be said to have put everything Alphard wanted to do. On the outside, it is equipped with 225/65R17 size tires and wheels, and although it is a gentle or elegant tailoring, the second row seats are premium nappa genuine leather seat skins and a removable rear multi-operation panel. An ultra-luxury version with an executive lounge seat as standard equipment.
The glass in the front quarter, front door, and sliding door is only this grade with high sound insulation. In addition, only the Executive Lounge in the Alphard is a frequency sensitive type that has three valves on the shock absorber and mechanically changes the damping force according to the input frequency.
First of all, when you set the driving position in the driver’s seat, you can see that it has become more like a passenger car than before. Whereas it used to be 30.4 degrees forward from the vertical, the new model stands up to 25.9 degrees. Of course, there are changes depending on how it is adjusted, but in the lowest state, it feels like a minivan.
Once you start moving, you’ll find a 2.5-liter hybrid with overwhelming silence thanks to all sound insulation measures, and a 225/65R17 with air volume + BRIDGESTONE TRANSA T005A ENLITEN with soft feet that will make you feel like you’re on a waterbed. ing. The ride at Townspeed is somewhat nostalgic, and I personally felt it was like a Crown Royal saloon in the mid-1980s. Is it okay to pick up the pace now? Feeling a little uneasy, I entered the highway.
225/65R17 + Bridgestone Transa T005A ENLITEN, which is a factor that creates a unique ride
But not everything is so fluffy. The front suspension is tighter than the rear and set to give a solid feeling. The electric power steering, which has been changed from column assist to rack assist, has a soft impression, but it conveys the road surface conditions firmly, so there is no sense of anxiety.
It seems that the fact that the rigidity of the force application point where the suspension is attached has been increased by 30% in both the front and rear compared to the conventional model is also effective. Even in the winding section of the Metropolitan Expressway Yokohane Line, the suspension is set softly, but the follow-up performance is good, and the course is not disturbed.
The underfloor V-brace, the straight rocker structure around the sliding door rail adopted from Noah Voxy, and the structural adhesive of 50m, which is five times that of the conventional model, are also effective. Originally, the rear is soft enough to make it difficult to handle, but I don’t feel bad when I’m driving. Of course, this is limited to driving within the speed limit on Japanese roads, but I thought it was amazing that there were no negatives despite the ride comfort in that situation. It may be the modern style that does not become fluffy and no information like the old crown.
When you enter the Daikoku parking area and sit in the second row this time, you will find a paradise space. I don’t feel any of the thumping input that I feel when crossing the sidewalk steps in the parking lot. I got over it with a float. The seat is made of urethane with high pressure distribution, and the seat back is set with a foam pad similar to a low-resilience pillow. What’s even more surprising is that even the armrests are given low-resilience foam pads. If you recline the seat, pull out the ottoman, and lie down, you can assume the same posture as in outer space, and when you try it, you can feel that your whole body is floating without applying any force. It becomes a sense of illusion that there is no. If you close the ceiling and side shades with the rear multi-operation panel and watch TV, you can forget that you are even in the car.
Around the cockpit of the new Alphard Executive Lounge 2nd row seats with anti-vibration rubber etc. The 2nd row seats are paradise.
For the first time in a Toyota vehicle, the seat is equipped with anti-vibration rubber bushings, and it feels like there is almost no vibration. It is said that human fingertips, skin, and muscles have a resonance frequency of around 15 Hz, but the space that is set to completely eliminate that is superb. I don’t feel any bubbling under my feet, probably because I bought high-attenuation adhesive for my feet (by the way, when I move to the third row, my feet get a little bubbling). This is definitely a chauffeur-driven grade.
Should the driver’s option menu be added to the catalog? This must be Alphard’s view of the world.
New VELLFIRE that emphasizes driving performance
New Vellfire Z-Premier 2WD
At the other end of the spectrum is the Vellfire Z-Premier 2WD (6.55 million yen) that I rode later. The 2.4-liter turbo + Direct Shift-8AT creates a responsiveness that is faithful to the accelerator and drivability that cannot be obtained with THS-II. The suspension is also a frequency sensitive type, but compared to the previous one, it can be seen that the setting is considerably tightened. The tire size is 225/55R19, and the brand name is Dunlop SP SPORT MAXX, giving it a very sporty impression. In addition, the setting of the front performance brace, which is the selling point of this time, and the electric power steering, which is full of response, is also a finish that makes you feel the driving.
It’s a car that emphasizes running, but it doesn’t feel like it’s pushing up at town speed. While keeping the body flat, there is a feeling that the input is well accommodated with short strokes, and the comfort is not compromised, which is quite a balance. On the Metropolitan Expressway Yokohane Line, it runs with a sense of unity that makes you forget that it is a minivan. I felt that it was a perfect set for users who like running but have to move to a minivan due to family relationships.
If you switch to the second seat and go over the steps in Daikoku Parking, you will feel a slight thud, but if the damper catches up with the input, you can handle it well. This seat does not use soft urethane and is made of synthetic leather, but the texture is still sufficient. The balance between the tightened suspension and the damping of the seat is perfect, and there is no unnecessary fluctuation. It’s not so uncomfortable once you get used to it. Also, when it comes to sound, if you compare it with Executive Lounge, there will be wind noise and road noise, but this is the level that you can think of as general. The Executive Lounge is a little more transcendent, and you’ll probably feel the loudness because you’re used to it.
New Alphard and new Vellfire with wider running range
Finally, I also tried the 2.5-liter hybrid Z E-Four, which can be said to be the main Alphard. It did not have a frequency-sensitive suspension, and was equipped with 225/60R18 size Yokohama Rubber Advan V03 tires. In terms of ride quality, it feels like it’s somewhere between the two cars I mentioned earlier. In a good way, it’s an extension of what it used to be, but the fact that the other two cars were too far ahead of them makes it seem like a waste of time. Personally, I would like this grade to have the same 17-inch option as the Executive Lounge. How comfortable will it be to ride with just that? By the way, this will be treated as a less option and will be 110,000 yen cheaper, so if you are interested, please try it.
In this way, the new Alphard and new Vellfire, which have increased the range of running even though they are minivans, are entering a world that is similar to the old model but different. Personally, I left the minivan when my child grew up, but if I had this finish, I would like to go back again. I think it’s so attractive.
However, after all, it seems that the delivery date is long, and it is likely that it will not be available for the next year. A new model with monthly sales of 8,500 units, of which 70% is Alphard and 30% is Vellfire. Even in such an environment, it is said that it is already so popular that it cannot catch up. This may be the only sore point. It seems that you can also use the subscription service “KINTO” as a correspondence method. In that case, it may come to hand in a few months. If you are interested, why not check it out?
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