Vans have always been part of the elite lifestyle, with V8-powered conversion vans once ruling the roost for celebrities and politicians alike. But that all changed when the Toyota Alphard rolled into town, offering super-smooth and relatively fuel-efficient powerplants, along with a road presence that was truly a class of its own. Just a month after the launch of the all-new Alphard, GAC Motor Philippines is getting into the game with its eye-catching M8. The Chinese carmaker announced in a Sep

The Toyota Alphard has been a surprise hit in the Philippines. Even though it’s a gasoline-powered minivan, it’s boxy yet stately styling, combined with its vast and luxurious cabin, meant it was a hit for everyone from politicians to high-roller gamblers. Indeed, no five-star casino in Metro Manila is complete without its own fleet of black or white Alphards. Given its success, Toyota decided to make subtle but significant changes to the all-new Alphard and its sportier sibling, the Vellfire. T

It is Sunday once more, so we’re back with another edition of the AutoFun Philippines Rearview Roundup. Valentine’s Day is just a few days away and many of you will likely have some fun dates with and/or great gifts for a special someone (sanaol talaga). For those who want to take their mind off February 14, 2023 (which we single people call Tuesday), here are five of your favorite stories from February 6 to 11, 2023. Tasty EV treat? We start off with something sweet (unlike my love life). AutoF

The current generation of the Toyota Alphard is getting long in the tooth as it has been on the market for about eight years. Its age marks the model as a prime candidate for a replacement. Our colleagues at Wapcar Malaysia reported that a new generation of the Toyota minivan might be coming as soon as May 2023, with renders popping up claiming to be close to the production version. While we take this information with a grain of salt as these are just renders, they give us a general idea of what

Can a typical man on the street afford a Toyota Alphard? Starting at Php 4,095,000, and you have to add about Php 15,000 if you like the pearl white color, the Alphard is priced like a suburban house for a typical middle-income family. This is not an insult to the man on the street though. This is a reality check. And reality says the Toyota Alphard's clientele can be on the affluent side. Or as those who live in Pasay would say, "in the POGO business." Regardless of the background, you have to

No doubt about it, the family car can be likened to one magic carpet ride transporting a bunch load of people from point A to B in a matter of seconds. While this metaphor sounds greatly exaggerated, it’s a known fact, however, that family or commercial vehicles (CV) truly do a wonderful job not only of hauling up families on long trips but they can also become reliable work fleets for storing up supplies or other loads as well. So far, Toyota, KIA, Ford, Suzuki, and Honda are the big-name car g