The 2016 Toyota Vellfire - Exclusive Early Access To The First Unit In Malaysia

Recently, Carlist.my got exclusive access to tour a brand new 2016 model year Toyota Vellfire before its made available to customers - the first one to hit Malaysian shores, we’re told. We had a long look at its luxuries, inside and out, courtesy of our parallel importer friends at Grandhill. 

The 2016 Vellfire’s exterior has clearly been through a redesign from the previous generation, while the overall characteristic silhouette that’s shared with it’s near-twin, the Alphard, has been retained. 

Toyota wanted to explore more of its styling differences between the Vellfire and Alphard, with the former symbolising boldness and daring and the latter being luxurious and valiant. Although, to say the Vellfire isn’t luxurious would be flat-out wrong. As we can see, there’s lots of plush surfaces to be enjoyed by everyone inside - driver and passengers. 

The creamy white leather upholstery seen in this unit is teamed with black trim and polished wood inserts. Additionally, there are aluminium bit strewn in as a contrast and altogether adds to the premium luxury feel, with the centre console being framed by a slab of machined aluminium. 

The passengers enjoying the middle-row are in for a treat with a wide and comfortable seats with rising foot rests, plush headrests and armrests. Those who are accustomed to business class on flights should feel right at home. 

The black Vellfire we see here is the Vellfire VL Executive Lounge, but they all share the same new platform that’s more rigid and incorporates a double wishbone rear suspension over the torsion beam arrangement of its predecessor. 

Of course, there is Smart Entry, Push Start, Power Sliding Doors, and Reservation Lock functionality as expected. There is also a 148-litre cargo area underneath the third-row seating, which Toyota boasts as being the largest in its class. The LED illumination system is built into the car’s interior ceiling permits four brightness levels and 16 colour choices. 

The body itself is also designed to be reduce aerodynamic drag to improve fuel economy, while Toyota claims it has enhanced sound dampening so that the interior is as unpolluted as possible by the noises from the outside. 

Engines offered (in Japan) for the Alphard and Vellfire start with the 2.5-litre 2AR-FE unit producing 180hp, moving up to the 3.5-litre 2GR-FE V6 engine with 276hp, and finally there’s a hybrid option that combines a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle 2AR-FXE engine with 150hp with two electric motors (front and rear) that develops 208hp, turning it into a four-wheel drive vehicle. 

Depending on the model, transmission options include either a Shiftmatic Super CVT i-transmission, a six-speed Super ECT automatic, or Toyota’s eCVT. 

To know more about the 2016 Toyota Vellfire for yourself, head over to Sunway Pyramid where Grandhill will be hosting a roadshow showcasing the many vehicles they are and will be putting on sale. The roadshow will run from 20th November to 22nd November, 2015. 

Interested in buying a Toyota Vellfire? Search Carlist.my today!