SEMA 2009: Inside-out Toyota Alphard is the ultimate brougham
Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:59PM by Frank Filipponio
Black Bison Toyota Alphard custom - Click above for high-res image gallery
Most Americans know very little of the Toyota Alphard and its Vellfire offshoot. It's basically one of Toyota's JDM minivans, although it's also frequently used as a limousine too. It's kind of funky and cool in a totally Japanese way. While we've gotten the moderately cool Previa in the States, that model was unfortunately followed up by the competent but forgettable Sienna. We've sadly never seen an Vellfire on these shores before, so you can imagine our surprise when we saw one right out front of the South Hall at SEMA.
It's kind of hard to recognize it in its current guise, but the Alphard is the van that Toyota has been using to study possible changes for its 2011 Sienna which will debut at the LA Auto Show next month. This particular Alphard, however, has apparently been through some type of transporter malfunction, having turned itself inside-out. That red exterior is actually leather, or possibly pleather. The "stickers" on the front fenders are actually stitched in too. We see ACC Inc., Air Bomber, Fat Moon, Rotora, Bellof, Forgiato, Wald, Proxes and Eskan, and that's as far as we managed to get before we had the inexplicable urge to go off in search of red velvet cake.
Photos copyright ©2009 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
It's kind of hard to recognize it in its current guise, but the Alphard is the van that Toyota has been using to study possible changes for its 2011 Sienna which will debut at the LA Auto Show next month. This particular Alphard, however, has apparently been through some type of transporter malfunction, having turned itself inside-out. That red exterior is actually leather, or possibly pleather. The "stickers" on the front fenders are actually stitched in too. We see ACC Inc., Air Bomber, Fat Moon, Rotora, Bellof, Forgiato, Wald, Proxes and Eskan, and that's as far as we managed to get before we had the inexplicable urge to go off in search of red velvet cake.
Photos copyright ©2009 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Victor 3:03PM (11/05/2009)
Previa/Estima> Alphard/sienna
Reply
BigHindu 9:48PM (11/05/2009)
This is a true statement, but that van is a Toyota Vellfire, not an Alphard.
bendizzle 3:08PM (11/05/2009)
its a 2011 family truckster.
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skablaw 3:09PM (11/05/2009)
"It's kind of funky and cool in a totally Japanese way."
You mean like animated tentacle porn, television game shows where prizes are won for inflicting pain on a male contestant's genitals, or fish flavored hard candy? Because this thing is definitely THAT kind of Japanese cool.
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Farmboy 3:56PM (11/05/2009)
Comment of the Day.
Dru 3:22PM (11/05/2009)
The web stitch work on the mirrors is kind of cool. At least these guys made something that stands out which is kind of hard to do at SEMA where everything is way over the top designs.
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Von Pinto 3:22PM (11/05/2009)
It's got kind of an 'if the Aerostar continued to evolve' look to it, but also tackier than Christopher Lowell's sitting room...
Meh...
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Salty Gator 3:21PM (11/05/2009)
It's the Japanese twin of the Ford Aerostar.
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Blacksabre 3:24PM (11/05/2009)
That thing is godawful hideous, and obviously they don't use speed bumps or have potholes, in Japan, although it'd be a great way to eliminate expansion joint protrusion. I *dare* them to drive that thing 10 miles on Hwy 101 in California.
If this is what we don't get from Japan, thank god. Some idiot might actually buy one, here, and try to drive it.
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Andre 3:50PM (11/05/2009)
Umm it's on Air suspension bro.. It's in VIP mode parked.
JDM Life 4:06PM (11/05/2009)
LMAO....Andre...some people just know....
soundrave 8:41PM (11/05/2009)
obviously, you haven't seen one on the road have you?
it's not the outside that counts.. its the INSIDE of this car that really counts.. it's like business flight cabin on wheels...
this alphard/velfire and its rivals, the nissan elgrand & honda elysion are truly luxurious rides, which demand respect..
Purplewon 3:29PM (11/05/2009)
that's great! Brings back memories of our bi*chin' Previa from back in the day. Love the cushioned hood.
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DCragtop 3:31PM (11/05/2009)
but does it Transform?!?!
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JDM Life 4:07PM (11/05/2009)
Wait so it isnt already transformed??!!
Farmboy 3:36PM (11/05/2009)
Introducing the Toyota Alphatard. C'mon, you guys thought it too. :D
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Vince 3:37PM (11/05/2009)
"mini"vans have gotten much too large. There's a gap in the market for smaller size vans. The Mazda5 sells well, but it's not mass market because it's.... well... Mazda.
If Toyota or Honda got into the miniminivan market the segment would take off.
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JDM Life 4:05PM (11/05/2009)
JDM Toyota FTW
I Love this thing....especially when they give it the VIP treatment like this.
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JMills 4:13PM (11/05/2009)
Ugh....just threw up in my mouth a little bit. God that is awful.
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Tevin 1:37PM (11/06/2009)
its a Vellfire not a Alphard.
Reply