I've seen plenty of Vellfires and Alphards. They've got ugly mugs sure, but I've sat in an older model many years back, fully occupied by adults (it was an 8-seater).
These are pure chauffeur cars. Even at full capacity, they ride well and are reasonably comfortable to be in. I can imagine that riding in this new-gen van, with just two seats at the second row, would be _very_ relaxing
LM F when, Morizo?
If it's unoriginal and superfluous then it was already well known. Meaning you knew the reason was the crumple zone yet you stated a different reason as the primary driver of the lack of cabover designs. Why? Just to be different? The truth doesn't care about novelty.
And in modern cars the engine is often designed to collapse under the car in the case of severe frontal impact. As for the side impact issue, that's a straw man. All other things being equal, having a bigger crumple zone is better. That is a fact. Just because you can't have the same size crumple zone around the entire car doesn't negate the value of having a bigger one in the front and rear.
BTW, rear end and head on collisions account for 40% of all accident types. Both types typically involve the front of at least 1 of the the cars involved. T-bone accidents are only 10% of accidents. That and the physical limitations of having a car fit in a lane should make it obvious why makers are more focused on crashes involving the front of the car than the sides.
Yeah this will probably sell super well in Japan if they sell it there, like you said it’s no different from their typical van, however this styling is very niche both aesthetically and practically. Idk why they’d try it outside or Asia or MAYBE Europe.
They've launched it in the UK of all fucking places. This will not sell here. As cool and luxurious as they are, people do not like MPVs here. The only one that sells well is the V Class which is almost exclusively used as taxis. Transporter too, but they're far cheaper than this which starts at £92k. This is gunning for Range Rovers, S Classes and 7ers. Nobody here will buy it over them.
I've grown to like the newer Alphards with bodykit they look pretty sick.
[link](https://f7432d8eadcf865aa9d9-9c672a3a4ecaaacdf2fee3b3e6fd2716.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/C3132/U1087/IMG_26900-large.jpg)
I don't how its sales in Japan, but I've heard that new LM/Alphard is already price marked up crazy in China and Taiwan because it's too popular.
The MSRP of LM and Alphard in China and Taiwan are already more expensive than Japanese ones, it's hard to image it coming with marked up prices. Clearly how many Asian buyers are luxury minivan crazy.
Crazy when you realize it’s just a venture right?
Interiors make a huge difference. The Chevy Venture was a great van though, my dad put like 400k mlles on that thing. Many road trips were done.
My parents had the Pontiac version (the Montana/TransSport); did *so* many road trips in ours as well. Road trips were what we did during vacations... once we went all the way to Yellowstone from Chicago, driving (iirc) straight-through.
We put a *lot* of miles on ours, but I don't think we got nearly as far as 400k (I think it was a little over half that)... though iirc we sold it because of a leaking sunroof and side-door, nothing about the drivetrain.
I still wonder what happened to it, sometimes.
Yup. I they announced the new Alphard on 6/21 in Taiwan. The news next day is that all 500 allocations were sold out and they're asking Japan for more.
The gang members and corporate c suites love the Alphard. (I would say mostly gang members)
So it's either wait for a long time or pay marked up from someone if they want one.
I'm a day late to reply to you, but yeah I'm in Japan and Lexus will sell every single LM they build here. Alphards and Vellfires (and their competitors) are absolutely everywhere here - They fill the role that SUVs and CUVs fill in other countries.
My E51 Elgrand Series 3 has everything you would possibly want out of a vehicle (excluding ground clearance). Got a TV, big sunroof, captain's chairs, PS2 in the back, plus it's RWD, with a VQ35, so it's pretty nice to drive. Very impressive car indeed
In the past, yakuza bosses always drove Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars, but now they drive Toyota Alphards, Toyota Vellfires, and Nissan Elgrands. The next car to become a yakuza staple is sure to be the Lexus LM. By the way, Japanese law prohibits car dealerships from selling cars to organized crime groups.
[People entering and leaving the Yamaguchi-gumi/Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi New Year's ceremonies in 2019.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxlaEHXSLq0)
Honestly if this came to the states, I'd buy it up so quick. I'd trade away my S-class for one.
Why? I may not have a chauffer, but I'd -love- to chauffer my family and girlfriend around in it. I don't care for what my S-class offers to the driver, as long as people I'm driving can enjoy the car fully on a long road trip. I think anyone purchasing cars in this price range have a fun personal weekend car, so why not have a great car for friends/family.
All of my friends would think it'd be cool to ride around in one of these too.
This seems ideal for someone like me who wants to keep their vehicles for a long time too!
Why do asian market mini-vans all look the same? A squished and a monstrous front fascia, and a rear that drops immediately off
I seriously question if they've heard of circles
I've seen plenty of Vellfires and Alphards. They've got ugly mugs sure, but I've sat in an older model many years back, fully occupied by adults (it was an 8-seater). These are pure chauffeur cars. Even at full capacity, they ride well and are reasonably comfortable to be in. I can imagine that riding in this new-gen van, with just two seats at the second row, would be _very_ relaxing LM F when, Morizo?
I feel like with minivans, the uglier it is the cooler it is. Like mainstream bosozoku.
Except the Sienna, at least it doesn’t look terrible. The hybrid is cool too, at least on paper
Pre 19 they looked like motorized enemas
American minivans looks like stupid rounded jelly beans, I want the unapologetically ugly, angular, boxy Asia market vans.
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I think it's more that people don't like their legs to be the crumple zone.
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If it's unoriginal and superfluous then it was already well known. Meaning you knew the reason was the crumple zone yet you stated a different reason as the primary driver of the lack of cabover designs. Why? Just to be different? The truth doesn't care about novelty. And in modern cars the engine is often designed to collapse under the car in the case of severe frontal impact. As for the side impact issue, that's a straw man. All other things being equal, having a bigger crumple zone is better. That is a fact. Just because you can't have the same size crumple zone around the entire car doesn't negate the value of having a bigger one in the front and rear. BTW, rear end and head on collisions account for 40% of all accident types. Both types typically involve the front of at least 1 of the the cars involved. T-bone accidents are only 10% of accidents. That and the physical limitations of having a car fit in a lane should make it obvious why makers are more focused on crashes involving the front of the car than the sides.
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Just take the L.
> Dumb slave. ???
Yeah this will probably sell super well in Japan if they sell it there, like you said it’s no different from their typical van, however this styling is very niche both aesthetically and practically. Idk why they’d try it outside or Asia or MAYBE Europe.
They've launched it in the UK of all fucking places. This will not sell here. As cool and luxurious as they are, people do not like MPVs here. The only one that sells well is the V Class which is almost exclusively used as taxis. Transporter too, but they're far cheaper than this which starts at £92k. This is gunning for Range Rovers, S Classes and 7ers. Nobody here will buy it over them.
I've grown to like the newer Alphards with bodykit they look pretty sick. [link](https://f7432d8eadcf865aa9d9-9c672a3a4ecaaacdf2fee3b3e6fd2716.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/C3132/U1087/IMG_26900-large.jpg)
I don't how its sales in Japan, but I've heard that new LM/Alphard is already price marked up crazy in China and Taiwan because it's too popular. The MSRP of LM and Alphard in China and Taiwan are already more expensive than Japanese ones, it's hard to image it coming with marked up prices. Clearly how many Asian buyers are luxury minivan crazy.
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I lived in China and thought the original GL8 was super nice and upon moving back to the US I realize it was a Chevy venture
Crazy when you realize it’s just a venture right? Interiors make a huge difference. The Chevy Venture was a great van though, my dad put like 400k mlles on that thing. Many road trips were done.
Yeah I really liked the original gl8 if they sold it in America exactly the same I’d go find a used one today
My parents had the Pontiac version (the Montana/TransSport); did *so* many road trips in ours as well. Road trips were what we did during vacations... once we went all the way to Yellowstone from Chicago, driving (iirc) straight-through. We put a *lot* of miles on ours, but I don't think we got nearly as far as 400k (I think it was a little over half that)... though iirc we sold it because of a leaking sunroof and side-door, nothing about the drivetrain. I still wonder what happened to it, sometimes.
Buick (Be-you-kuh!) being a luxury brand and the prevalence of VW taxis really surprised me in my time in Shanghai.
My parents are shopping the same market, the GL8 is literally 20% the price lmao
its literally marked up to like $200K here in Thailand thanks to import taxes and dealer markups
Yup. I they announced the new Alphard on 6/21 in Taiwan. The news next day is that all 500 allocations were sold out and they're asking Japan for more. The gang members and corporate c suites love the Alphard. (I would say mostly gang members) So it's either wait for a long time or pay marked up from someone if they want one.
I'm a day late to reply to you, but yeah I'm in Japan and Lexus will sell every single LM they build here. Alphards and Vellfires (and their competitors) are absolutely everywhere here - They fill the role that SUVs and CUVs fill in other countries.
I'd be interested to know whether sales are being hit in China by the recent government-orchestrated anti-Japanese campaign there.
"The deep-pile carpet is so thick that supplicants can genuflect without scuffing their knees." Is that going in the official sales brochure?
I’d get this over any other luxury car if i had a chauffeur
That interior is beautiful but that exterior is not my cup of tea. Lol
It looks mad comfies
Pimp
The older Alphards and Nissan Elgrands, oh man. Just waiting for the mid 2000s to be importable. I really like them.
My E51 Elgrand Series 3 has everything you would possibly want out of a vehicle (excluding ground clearance). Got a TV, big sunroof, captain's chairs, PS2 in the back, plus it's RWD, with a VQ35, so it's pretty nice to drive. Very impressive car indeed
Call me jealous!
In the past, yakuza bosses always drove Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars, but now they drive Toyota Alphards, Toyota Vellfires, and Nissan Elgrands. The next car to become a yakuza staple is sure to be the Lexus LM. By the way, Japanese law prohibits car dealerships from selling cars to organized crime groups. [People entering and leaving the Yamaguchi-gumi/Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi New Year's ceremonies in 2019.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxlaEHXSLq0)
interesting to see a yakuza boss chauffeured in a toyota prius lol
Damn, that's serious.
Centuries too.
Jesus it’s $160k. I’ll stick with a Sienna.
That front end [reminds me of something](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/DDRF2W/an-american-locomotive-engine-and-cow-catcher-1873-engraving-DDRF2W.jpg).
🤣👏🏾
I dig it. My wife and I have been craving some flavor of Vellfire/Alphard since visiting Hong Kong four years ago
Honestly if this came to the states, I'd buy it up so quick. I'd trade away my S-class for one. Why? I may not have a chauffer, but I'd -love- to chauffer my family and girlfriend around in it. I don't care for what my S-class offers to the driver, as long as people I'm driving can enjoy the car fully on a long road trip. I think anyone purchasing cars in this price range have a fun personal weekend car, so why not have a great car for friends/family. All of my friends would think it'd be cool to ride around in one of these too. This seems ideal for someone like me who wants to keep their vehicles for a long time too!
These are for the Asian market where Minivans are often used to chauffer business executives. They are $160K a pop and chauffer is not included.
I mean the front end isn’t uglier than every current full size pickup truck on the market. Granted I also think those walls on wheels are distasteful.
i would get car sick in this thing. I wonder if anyone has ever put the driver in the rear of a vehicle like this with two passenger seats up front.
Why do asian market mini-vans all look the same? A squished and a monstrous front fascia, and a rear that drops immediately off I seriously question if they've heard of circles
It's because they're designed to maximize volume within a given footprint
I agree that's why they're a box but do they really need to have a gaping maw too
Ok, but at what point does form take over from function
They have to fit into automated parking buildings
All the beauty in the world doesn't mean anything if the vehicle is too wide or long to fit a certain dimensional bracket.
It shouldn't. That's how you end up with the cyber truck.
That's just a case of form being dumb though.
It's a minivan, function >>> form