Yin-Yang is the struggle between good and evil and beyond that a fight that takes place within each individual. As cool as this philosophical idea is, its sanctity has been completely destroyed by liberal use in Hollywood. So why not take the white and the black, give it to a couple of gorillas and let them have a bitter fight during a Toyota commercial.
Now, this isn't something you're going to see on your television screens, not unless you live in Japan. There, the company has launched brand new versions of the Vellfire minivan in the weirdest, most Japanese way possible.
In fact the only way in which these commercials could be more Japanse is if the gorillas were the size of King Kong and they were having a discussion with Godzilla and the Power Rangers. Maybe we went off on a bit of a tangent there, but here's what we know:
One gorilla wants you to find discipline, the other wants you to be free. While one talks about creativity, the other says you should stay conservative and safe. Both ideas are two sides of the same coin, just like the Vellfire embodies two different mantras: practicality and style.
The Vellfire remains one of the most handsome 6-seater minivans we've ever seen, but for 2015 it's also dynamically competent, thanks to newly introduced double-wishbone suspension at the rear.
Why would you need trick suspension on a van? Because this one is fast. There are three engine choices available, ending with a 280 PS 3.5-liter V6 gasoline unit mated to a six-speed Sequential Shiftmatic with 6 Super ECT. The downside, of course, is that it returns only 9.5 km/L (10.5 l/100 km or 22.3 mpg US).
If that worries you, there are more efficient options, including a new hybrid system that combines a 152 PS 2.5-liter with a 6-speed auto and an "E-Four" electric system consisting of a 143 PS front motor and an 68 PS rear motor. This Lexus NX 300h of the car world returns a very respectable 19.4 km/L (5.1 l/100 km or 45.6 mpg US) according to Japan’s JC08 test cycle for combined driving. Guess that makes the white gorilla happy.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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