Japan’s top luxury car brand creates a luxurious MPV that’s without a direct rival.
Is there really a market for it?
The Toyota Alphard (and the sportier-looking Vellfire) has mostly been sold in Asia, with Russia being the first in Europe.
And if you look in Thailand, this luxurious MPV has been selling quite well both through official and independent channels by attracting well-heeled buyers needing to be chauffeur-driven.
In fact, a high-ranking executive of Toyota Motor Thailand once told us that an Alphard wearing the Lexus badge should work “nicely”.
So here it is: the all-new LM from Lexus which has made its world debut at the Shanghai motor show this week in a country that could eventually form the bulk of sales.
So it’s basically Alphard fanfare…
If you look back at some Lexus models built to satisfy different regions worldwide, some were merely rehashed from upper-end Toyotas.
There’s the LX which essentially is a Land Cruiser and the smaller GX (Land Cruiser Prado) which were sold primarily in the US and Middle East.
With the LM, it’s basically Alphard fanfare. Although the LM’s face has been penned to align with other current Lexuses on sale with that bid spindle-like grille, that striking fin on the side still serves a stark reminder of its true origins. The LM's cabin has some bespoke elements like on the fascia and steering wheel itself.
Two drivetrains have been announced for the LM: 3.5-litre direct-injected V6 and eight-speed automatic for LM350 and 2.5-litre hybrid with CVT auto in LM300h. The LM doesn’t get the pure-petrol 2.5-litre.
The interior, meanwhile, has been spruced up with features to the max so that it can justify its loftier position over the Alphard.
Aside the three-row option, there’s a 2+2 configuration featuring reclining seats and limo-like screen and panel separating the front and rear rows. If you think the Alphard is like Business Class, the LM has gone First.
But the Alphard’s already a pricey car!
Yes, particularly in Thailand where high import duties remain notoriously in place.
The Alphard in hybrid form goes for 3.877 million baht (non-hybrid Vellfire asks for 130k less) and in V6 guise 5.382 million baht (boasting VIP seats).
And given that Lexus is a premium brand, the two LMs should definitely cost more.
Even if the LM is without a direct rival in the luxury car camp (the Merc V-Class is more of an extra-large van with a dressed-up interior), exceeding the Alphard’s sticker prices won’t really help its cause.
A remedy could be to phase out official sales of the Alphard in Thailand (now five years old in its current generation) and price the more basic model of the LM to match.
Another way out, according to sources, is to dust off a notion to assemble Lexus models in the country that will not only help bring down the price but fend off sales challenges from independent importers.
