Nother CarGuy

Toyota has lifted the veils off the all-new 2021 Sienna minivan, the fourth-generation of the popular nameplate. Designed, engineered and assembled in the United States, the 2021 Toyota Sienna adopts a bolder design that’s inline with the brand’s latest models, comes with a standard hybrid powertrain and Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, and offers available all-wheel drive. Based on the TNGA-K platform, the fourth-gen Sienna features a more daring design that Toyota says is influenced by SUVs and Japan’s Shinkansen ‘bullet train’. The minivan sports strong and robust proportions thanks to the shoulder-themed body design, muscular wheel flares and boldly sculpted surfaces. The front end features high-set headlights that interact with the small upper grille via chrome trim and the bold lower grille via the creases at their center. At the back, the 2021 Toyota Sienna sports LED taillights with an integrated black canard that’s said to improve aerodynamic performance, as well as ...

China’s Aiways has just unveiled a brand new all-electric concept vehicle in its hometown of Shanghai. Dubbed the U7 Ion, it follows in the footsteps of the production-ready U5 SUV, showcased in Geneva last month. The U7 Ion features the company’s FRM concept, which stands for “family and roomy mobility”. It also premieres the ‘fourth space’ interior concept, where the vehicle provides a sanctuary from busy modern life through seamless connectivity and in-car artificial intelligence tech. The U7 Ion comes with an integrated self-learning robot, which can actually move around the interior watching over the occupants. The cabin also stands out thanks to a total of 12 screens spread throughout, including a smart dashboard touchscreen display integrated into the steering wheel, and a touchscreen built into a smart mobile console. “Our presence at Auto Shanghai, from our new U7 ion concept and our production-ready U5 SUV to our impressive show stand, shows our drive and ambition...

The first ever Lexus minivan has arrived and it’s quite a special vehicle. Celebrating its world debut at the Shanghai Auto Show, the Lexus LM is a flagship luxury MPV developed specifically for the Chinese market. However, it will go on sale on other Asian markets too — unfortunately, Lexus didn’t announce plans to offer it outside the world’s most populous continent. Lexus says the new LM integrates oriental car philosophy, combining unique craftsmanship with hospitality and comfortable driving experience. While it looks quite attractive on the outside (despite sporting the biggest spindle-grille we’ve seen so far), the Lexus LM is all about the interior. The new LM luxury minivan is showcased in Shanghai in a four-seat configuration that effectively turns the rear passenger compartment into a business-class lounge. The front and rear rows are separated by a wall fitted with a glass screen that can be raised and lowered. The partition also features a big flat-screen TV an...

Some automakers are saying no to people carriers and instead, focusing their efforts on giving customers even more crossovers and SUVs. But not Lexus. In fact, the Japanese automaker will be launching its first-ever minivan at the Shanghai Auto Show later this month. Named the LM, it’s likely based on the third generation Toyota Alphard. Judging by the latest teaser image released on social media, it has an almost identical profile, with sliding rear doors that facilitate ingress and egress, and long windows at the back that provide an airy feel. Lexus’ large grille is flanked by angular headlights at the front that incorporate LED daytime running lights, as a previous teaser showed. Toyota’s latest Alphard is offered with various powertrains, including a hybrid variant that could find its way in the LM, given that Lexus has trademarked the LM 300h moniker. The 3.5-liter V6 gasoline unit is another plausible candidate, as the LM 350 nameplate has been secured as well. Custom...

When we showed you the Concept-i Ride and Concept-i Walk earlier this week, we had a feeling it wouldn't be long before Toyota revealed another concept for the Toyko Motor Show. We figured it would take a bit longer than two days, but here we already have the next.Called the Fine-Comfort Ride, the new concept is hardly as dynamically named as, say, the Supra, or even the Land Cruiser. But what it lacks in nameplate allure it makes up for in innovation. The show car envisions a self-driving lounge space powered by hydrogen fuel cells and individual hub motors. It's designed around a diamond-shaped cabin layout that's widest around the passengers, tapered towards the rear, and curved around the windshield. As with so many forward-looking self-driving concepts, the cabin setup is flexible. The bench at the back is fixed, but the four captain's chairs can move around to transform from a layout you'd expect to see in a minivan or crossover to that of a ...

While Honda, Chrysler, and Kia have new generations of their minivans on the market, Toyota is sticking by the existing Sienna but keeping things fresh with mild revisions for it at the New York Auto Show. At the other end of the size spectrum, company also has updates for the little Yaris so that customers wanting a small vehicle can still have a big list of available equipment. The updated front end is by far the most obvious part of this refresh. Toyota’s fits a new fascia and grille that takes minor cues from recent models like the Mirai. The look might be rather polarizing among buyers, though. The massive mouth near the road doesn’t fit with the rest of the minivan’s conservative design, and the new parts make the model like a giant handheld vacuum going down the road.  Minivans are more about utility than styling, and Toyota makes an effort to make the 2018 Sienna more comfortable for occupants. Starting from the mid-grade SE trim, a new laminated windshield red...

With new available transmissions, as well as advanced connectivity and active safety features on-board, the all-new  fifth-generation Honda Odyssey  is ready to mix it up with the segment's best again. The Odyssey is already one of the most popular minivans with American buyers and this next-generation model comes with the kind of features and technologies that belong at the  2017 Detroit Auto Show . We're talking goodies like the new Magic Slide second-row seat, the new CabinWatch and CabinTalk systems, new Display Audio touchscreen with Honda's own OS, 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity, new Rear Entertainment System with streaming video and of course  Honda Sensing  technologies, which come as standard on EX and above trims. "This new Odyssey raises the stakes for family-friendly packaging, performance and technology in the minivan segment,"  said John Mendel, Executive VP of American Honda Motor Co.  "In all aspects of its design, the new Odyssey is made...

Chrysler's  Portal Concept  is celebrating its world debut at  CES  2017 and has brought with it a number of advanced technologies and a unique design. According to the brand, it is the perfect vehicle for millennials. We're not so sure about that. Powering the Portal Concept is an electric motor driving the front wheels and a 100 kWh battery pack mated into the floor. Chrysler says the Portal Concept can achieve a range exceeding 250 miles and that with a 350 kw fast charger, the battery pack can be topped up to a 150 mile (241 km) range in less than 20 minutes. As with most futuristic concepts released in recent times, the Portal Concept supports some autonomous driving functionality. Specifically, it allows for level 3 autonomous driving meaning it can drive itself on the highway. Chrysler already has a  minivan  on the market, the  Pacifica . It's therefore not known if the automaker is planning on bringing the Portal Concept into production alo...