[silviaS15]

The Vellfire looks cool while the Alphard's front is ugly

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6jtwmqVYmEw

[silviaS15]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FoC2Lo2g1as

[mick78]

http://www.carscoops.com/2015/01/toy...phard-and.html

Press pics. Personally, I'll never understand the need for most vans in Japan being offered with two different front ends...

[anonms]

Originally Posted by mick78

http://www.carscoops.com/2015/01/toy...phard-and.html

Press pics. Personally, I'll never understand the need for most vans in Japan being offered with two different front ends...

Different sales channels with different target demos. It's like GM rebadges, except it's still a Toyota.

[mick78]

Originally Posted by anonms

Different sales channels with different target demos. It's like GM rebadges, except it's still a Toyota.

Looking at the "quality" of some Toyota designs, I sometimes ask myself whether the money to keep up these parallel structures would probably better be invested in the design department.

I really don't know how two mostly identical vans with both having a chrome laden grille should attract different demographics, or is Japanese market really that special that squarer instead of x shaped grille already is good for different demographics`?

[anonms]

Originally Posted by mick78

Looking at the "quality" of some Toyota designs, I sometimes ask myself whether the money to keep up these parallel structures would probably better be invested in the design department.

I really don't know how two mostly identical vans with both having a chrome laden grille should attract different demographics, or is Japanese market really that special that squarer instead of x shaped grille already is good for different demographics`?

I don't know, why not ask GM how that works out for them? Clearly, it works. Somehow.

[mick78]

Originally Posted by anonms

I don't know, why not ask GM how that works out for them? Clearly, it works. Somehow.

Well, to be fair, nowadays the cars are different enough (well, except the GMC offerings). The mostly rebadging era didn't work in the long term, and has ended already a while ago...

[silviaS15]

I think that's because Japanese prefer more choices. In the past there were even more siblings of different models available in the JDM, including Corolla or Camrys, with quite a wide range of trim levels and engines to choose from, when there was overall bigger demand for cars.

As an example, this 1986 Toyota Vista (sibling of Camry), available as hardtop or sedan, was offered with 13 trim levels and ａvariety of engines:

http://hide-g.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2013-03-05

[Blackraven]

Originally Posted by anonms

Different sales channels with different target demos. It's like GM rebadges, except it's still a Toyota.

Yup....at least that's how Toyota does it over there

[swizzle]

The Japanese market amuses me in a very good way. The clever factor is apparent.

In a way it's sort of like how the Big Three were in the 60s where they would have one car and each trim level was a different name.

Pontiac Catalina / Ventura / Bonneville
Chevy Biscayne / Impala / Caprice

For a while Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick were the same car with differentiated styling sold through multiple channels.

When GM decided to make all divisions "full line" brands, they ruined the model

Done right it increases the coverage of the market without having to have massive capital outlays.