2018 Toyota Alphard facelift spied in Japan

Twitter user Arancio Atlas and minkara Blog have posted spy shots of the new Toyota Alphard.

The 2018 Toyota Alphard features restyled grille that flows into the headlamps, sharper bumper and reshaped fog lamp housing at the front. At the rear, Toyota has extended the tailgate applique to the area above the tail lamps, which also have undergone minor revision. Vertical light reflectors have replaced the horizontal light reflectors. Interior changes, if any, are unknown for now. Along with the 2018 Toyota Alphard, Toyota should release the 2018 Toyota Velfire (facelift) as well.

With the mid-cycle facelift, the Toyota Alphard and Toyota Velfire will adopt Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) as standard. TSS-P is Toyota's safety package for mid-sized and high-end cars. It combines a single-lens camera and a millimetre-wave radar for enhanced safety. The various features offered under it include Lane Departure Alert, Automatic High Beam, Pre-collision System with pedestrian detection function and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.

Japanese reports suggest that the new Alphard and new Velfire's 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6 engine will gain direct injection and see an increase in the maximum power output of 20 hp. It currently produces 280 PS (276.14 hp) and 344 Nm of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission will replace the 6-speed automatic transmission.

Toyota will reportedly release the 2018 Toyota Alphard and 2018 Toyota Velfire in Japan on 25 December 2017.