Luxury vehicle growing interest in luxury vehicles from emerging markets such as China and Russia. The entry-level luxury segment has been very competitive, and there has been price-overlapping with well-equipped non-luxury cars. For example, in Canada, several luxury manufacturers set sales records in August 2009, due mostly to aggressive incentives on entry-level luxury vehicles. In September 2009, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Audi all saw their Canadian sales increase by more than 10 per cent compared to a year earlier, despite overall Canadian auto sales being down 3.5 per cent compared to September 2008. The head of Mercedes-Benz Canada suggested that the brand
Toyota Alphard Toyota Alphard The is a minivan produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota since 2002. It is available as a seven- or eight-seater with petrol and hybrid engine options. Hybrid variants have been available since 2003 and it incorporates Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. The vehicle was named after Alphard, the brightest star in the constellation Hydra. The Alphard is marketed as a luxury car for chauffeur business and primarily made for the Japanese market, but is also sold in Bahrain, Belarus, Oman, Russia, Sri Lanka, Greater China, and Southeast Asia. In 2006, a Royal Lounge Alphard was introduced. It is