New info from bestcarweb.jp.
Models that very likely are announced at TMS:
New Alphard and Vellfire
Power unit will be highly popular 300h and top range V6 is changing to hybrid. No mentioning if it's one from Crown or LS. Question is: are we going to see both Alphard and Vellfire? Toyota has previously announced it will cut by half of its models in Japan as it merges dealerships to one. Both vehicles are very popular and sales scheme in China offering different models on Dongfeng and GAC sales channels.
Am I reading correctly that there is a new Toyota Alphard but they just based the brand new Lexus LM on the old one...?
As is the case with the 3rd-gen Toyota Sienta rumor at the top of this thread, the 2019 Tokyo show is too soon for the launch of the 4th-gen Alphard and Vellfire. The current 3rd-gen versions were launched in January 2015, and received their mid-life facelift (including FE-to-FKS upgrade of the 3.5-liter V6) on January 2018. Given their historical 6-to-7-year cycles, next Alphard and Vellfire should launch no sooner than January 2021, with January 2022 a distinct possibility.
I'd guess that the just-launched Lexus LM will follow the precedent of the original Lexus ES, where the 2nd-gen Toyota Camry Prominent / Vista was hastily pressed into Lexus service as a 2-year stopgap until a more properly differentiated 2nd-gen Lexus ES could be produced.
The "top range" V6 hybrid powertrain is the 3.5-liter 8GR-FXS that is shared by Lexus' 5LS 500h, LC 500h and high-end variants of 15th-gen Toyota Crown. I am unaware of any notable differences between the three applications. Notably, however, the 8GR-FXS has only been used on the GA-L and TNGA-N RWD/longitudinal engine platforms, whereas new Alphard/Vellfire/Lexus LM would presumably be built on the TNGA-K FWD/transverse engine platform. With the current transverse V6 hybrid (2GR-FXE) derided for its lackluster fuel economy and already discontinued from the upcoming 4th-gen Toyota Highlander, it'll be interesting to see what happens with hybrid versions of the upcoming heaviest TNGA-K vehicles (5th-gen Lexus RX and 4th-gen minivans Sienna, Alphard and Vellfire, plus Lexus 2LM).
Flexus (or
BestCarWeb?) accurately touched upon a very basic conflict within Toyota: a desire to consolidate its Byzantine four separate Japanese dealer networks into one (thus eliminating redundant variations and nameplates of the same basic model) versus the need for two separate variants of each major popular model to feed rival GAC and FAW Toyota joint ventures in China. This is most evident with the latest Toyota Corolla sedan, which defies the "one Corolla" consolidation of the hatchback model with separate "Prestige" (Chinese FAW and European Corolla) and "Sporty" (Japan, North America and Chinese GAC Levin) sedans. Thus, I'd agree that China will retain separate Alphard (for GAC) and Vellfire (for FAW) vans.
New Estima
Estima has been Toyota's flagship technology showcase flagship. Development of new Estima is confirmed and we could expect futuristic design and powertrain. Addition to conventional 2.5l hybrid FCEV variant is added. I won't be surprised if there is some degree of self-driving (better than Tesla aka for city use) as I have with my own eyes witnessed Estima being used for self-driving mule in Japan.
That sounds like a grandiose, even off-base description for a "tweener" minivan (larger than Noah/Voxy/Esquire but smaller than Alphard/Vellfire) that has been around in its present form since 2006 with just a single facelift. So, yes, a new Estima is as overdue as a new Yaris, Tundra or 4Runner. Or might Toyota simply let it die without a successor?
New Mirai
Crown based TNGA RWD model. FC stack placed under rear seats and centre tunnel. Bestcar has heard some rumors that Mirai would be LS FCV's sister model.
Interesting if true. Moving Mirai from its current FWD architecture to a variation of the latest Crown's TNGA-N would make a closely-related GA-L Lexus LS FCV a more viable proposition. Bear in mind, however, that some rumors suggest that the LS FCV has been cancelled.
New HiAce.
Different than February announced international HiAce. JDM version moves from over cab to semi-bonnet style for better safety. Dimensions won't change dramatically as it needs to fit in 4 number commercial category.Engines will be 2.0l petrol and 2.4l diesel turbo.
Indeed, the "international" 6th-gen H300 HiAce was announced on
February 2019 in the Philippines. The press release notes that "the current Hiace model will continue to be sold in Japan as-is, due to the different local market environment." Thus, a JDM 6th-gen HiAce debut is certainly a viable proposition for the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. Those rumored 2.0l petrol and 2.4l diesel turbo powertrains are tiny, though, compared to the international HiAce's 1GD (2.8-liter turbo diesel) or 7GR (3.5-liter gasoline) options.
EXTRA: 860B 2nd gen Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ
It gets new engine FA24 which is 2.4l NA and expected power is 230ps/24.5kgm. Price from 3m ¥.
I'm a bit skeptical about 2nd-gen 86... Even more with more displacement... Without any test-mule or prototype?
I failed to mention that 86 is 2021 model.
Agreed. 2021 model year at the earliest sounds more viable for this.