he Toyota Alphard is a luxury MPV produced by the Japanese automaker  Toyota  since 2002. It is available as a seven or eight-seater with 2.4  and 3.0-litre gasoline engines in 3 different model lines – Alphard G,  Alphard V and Alphard Hybrid. The Alphard is primarily made for the  Japanese market, but is also sold in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Bangladesh,  Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Bahrain,[2]  and Malaysia. The  vehicle was named after the Alphard, the brightest star  in the  constellation Hydra.
 
Toyota states its “E-Four electric 4WD system that regulates a  rear-mounted, rear-wheel-propelling electric motor and coordinates  electric power distribution to all four wheels. An ECB (Electrically  Controlled Brake system) provides efficient wheel-by-wheel brake  control.”
 
The full-size Alphard Hybrid MPV qualifies as an Ultra-Low Emissions  Vehicle (ULEV), achieving levels 75% lower emissions than the Japanese  government’s 2000 benchmark. The 2.4-litre gasoline engine has been  developed specifically for use in Toyota’s hybrid systems and features a  high-expansion ratio cycle that raises efficiency and reduces friction.
 In 2006, a Royal Lounge Alphard was introduced. It is a luxurious,  four-seat version of the Alphard. Its traditional competitor from Nissan  is the Elgrand.