Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Japan, Toyota
Toyota Alphard Royal Lounge offers jetlike luxury
The Toyota Alphard is the company's premium Japan-market minivan. Available as either a gasoline or hybrid model, the boxy MPV in stock form has a spacious interior that can be reconfigured in several different ways. The automaker's in-house customization firm , Toyota Modellista, has created the Alphard Royal Lounge edition, an executive vehicle best suited for someone who has a driver at his or her disposal.
How else is the occupant supposed to take advantage of the creature comforts available in the Alphard Royal Lounge's swank passenger cabin? Gone are all but two seats, positioned fully aft to offer enormous amounts of legroom and easy ingress/egress via the sliders. The seats are awash in rich leather and feature a power recline function that includes a fold-out ottoman, similar to what you find in upper class train or airline seating. Polished wood trim adds to the warm ambiance.
Reading lamps mounted to the seatbacks arc overhead to illuminate the seating areas, and the ample countertops by the vehicle walls feature cupholders and what appear to be window, seat and/or privacy curtain controls. In the console between the two seats, a pair of tray tables and a video screen fold neatly out of sight.
Immediately behind the front seats, a handsome console is home to the passenger cabin's refirigerator plus additional storage areas suitable for barware or other personal belongings. The driver isn't exactly slumming it up front, either, as the leather and wood treatment finds its way forward as well.
The price? For the Alphard Hybrid Royal Lounge, it's over 7 million yen, which translates to roughly $61,000 US. Not cheap if you look at it as just a minivan. Not bad, however, if you consider the Maybachian interior appointments. it's certainly an interesting alternative to a chauffeur-driven limo or large luxury sedan.
(More pictures after the jump)
[Source: Toyota Japan]
Toyota Alphard Royal Lounge interior:
A full interior photo gallery is available at Toyota Modellista.
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
swe 5:34PM (7/04/2006)
well, i bet the kids will love it
Reply
G 5:45PM (7/04/2006)
A most bizarre idea. Not to say it isn't a bad one, just bizarre.
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
Reply
Billy 5:52PM (7/04/2006)
I want one. Applications for driving me around in this on a postcard to the usual address please.
Reply
Eric L. 5:57PM (7/04/2006)
This thing is fantastic! Might not have the prestige of being driven around in a Maybach, but when you are on the inside, who cares?
Reply
aaron 6:14PM (7/04/2006)
Well sort of like a really slow homely plane, or a limo for someone who can't bring themselves to actually pony up for a limo.
Reply
Public Servant # 1 6:39PM (7/04/2006)
Chevy and Dodge have been doing conversion's like this for some time. Corporations order these to pick up important people at airports, and are used to make deals on the road. Some of them can cost as much at $300 thousand, I watched a show on dateline one night showing the Dodge model, it had a raised roof and was much richer than this one. A woman owns the company that makes the conversions.
Reply
Jim P. 7:12PM (7/04/2006)
Ahhh, now you can drive or be driven to Home Depot in first class luxury to pick up some finishing materials for your home improvement project!!
Reply
Michael Duffy 8:04PM (7/04/2006)
Well you got to hand it to Toyota. What is interesting is the hybrid model that is available here. As ford and others in the US continue to falter on their hybrid strategy , Toyota forge ahead and introduce it across the range.
Just as they adapted to the oil crisis in the 70's the Japanese car manufacturers are doing it again this time round! What is going on stateside??
Reply
RWD fan 9:03PM (7/04/2006)
Bring the Hiace to the US. Screw the Sienna. How about some utilitarian vehicles that are available everywhere else in the world. The Aussies can get a Hiace with a very efficient 2.5l common rail diesel, and it has a tow rating over 1000 lbs. Some families could give a crap about automatic dual sliding side doors, they'd rather go camping and boating or be able to take out the rear seats and load up a couple dirt bikes for the weekend, rather than have to worry about the interior of some $35K plus Accord on steroids, or rather a reflection of obeisity that so permiates the media when talking about Americans.
Reply
Graham 9:57PM (7/04/2006)
Not sure why some think this is that bizzare. :) We've had custom vans made out of Fords, Chevys, Dodges, for how many decades now? Some of them are quite plush. And of course limo companies typically have vans and busses in their fleets. So this seems pretty normal to me, and fits in a japanese parking space. I don't think these are meant to take the place of a Mercedes, but be a level above a taxi or a shuttle bus.
Reply
David 10:23PM (7/04/2006)
Maybe it seems bizarre for the U.S. market, but I'll bet it's perfect for someone busy who has to deal with Tokyo traffic.
I seem to recall reading about Hi-Aces that had been outfitted as full offices for an exec in Bangkok because of the awful traffic there -- fax, conference table, and a driver of course.
Reply
Paul 10:31PM (7/04/2006)
???
All this for 4 lousy seats?
Does anyone else actually like the 'finned brick' design of these things?
Reply
borgie 12:35AM (7/05/2006)
This thing is PERFECT for someone who's so rich and famous that they don't need to show off anymore. If you fear kidnapping or assasination attempts, just put a little bullet proofing and you'll have the perfect sleeper limo. I mean, would you take a second look at the guy who come out of this thing? If I become like say a Yakza boss in a turf war I would ditch my standard issue S-class for this in a heartbeat.
Reply
Alex Zhao 1:22AM (7/05/2006)
the only time that you can actually enjoy a glass of wine, read, or write is when the van is actually stopped.
Reply
PJ 1:39AM (7/05/2006)
That (rear) interior really is strikingly similar to what you'll find in high-end business jets. Looks extremely comfortable.
But it's hard to compare to a Maybach considering that the thing's still going to ride like a small minivan--impact harshness, body shake, road noise, etc... it's the same reason I don't understand the point of those expensive conversion vans mentioned above. They really don't ride very well compared to a good sedan.
But I have to give Toyota credit for offering a hybrid version. I'm sure there's a market for it, considering how many VIPs like their lifestyles to be perceived as less ostentatious than they actually are...
RWD fan, not to steal your thunder, but it's worth noting that the Sienna and Odyssey are both rated to tow 3,500 pounds.
Reply
Bob-o 3:20AM (7/05/2006)
PJ, how can you say that this will ride harsher/louder/etc than a sedan? It has a higher roof so its less road friendly?
Reply
Dennis 7:19AM (7/05/2006)
Been taken into China from hongkong in one of these and they are more spacious, comfortable and practical through the HK/Chinese border crossing's rough roads than the S-class it replaced because the driver simply opens the auto doors @ customs/immigration checkpoints and no one needs to get out. Inspectors like it too as the whole vehicle is opened up automatically, including the tailgate. It works.
Reply
GOKARTN 8:14AM (7/05/2006)
Is it me, or does it seem to have a lot less electronic gadgets that what would be expected of a vehicle like this.
Reply
starlightmica 8:19AM (7/05/2006)
RWD Fan -
The HiAce is not the right van for us US porkers, and the Sienna isn't the right van for the rest of the world. The US minivan market wants vehicles a certain size, 200+hp, with versatility and safety features - you can't get 4-wheel disc brakes, ESC, side curtain airbags on a HiAce from the AU specs. It's _much_ easier to get my newborn strapped car seat into the back with the power sliding door and tumble forwards seat, and given the size of mandatory car seats it's impossible to get any more than 2 kids into a sedan.
BTW, Sienna's tow rating is 3500 lbs, and the street price for my config is $24k.
Reply
jeffinToronto 8:33AM (7/05/2006)
This thing is sweet. When is Toyota going to get into and takeover the business jet business?
Reply