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Production plans have been halted for the Ridgeline-esque Toyota A-BAT Concept hybrid truck, trading focus on Batman for the more Pikachu-like Scion iQ. [PickupTrucks.com] More »
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According to Pickuptrucks.com, Toyota has given the go-ahead on a production version of the radical Toyota A-BAT concept first revealed at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. The compact, unibody pickup would be equipped with an expandable four foot cargo box and hybrid synergy drive while fitting into the footprint of the RAV4. The A-BAT would be one of only a few members of the compact segment (along with the Ford Ranger, which we still are told is on the outs, and the Pontiac G8 ST), as the rest of the competition has moved into the midsize range without saying so. Further making the point that the big truck market is on the skids, rumor has it the Toyota Tundra Diesel boss "Ken" Watenabe promised we'd eventually be seeing now has the status of indefinite delay. More »
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Update: We've got the live reveal video posted HERE More »
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The concept that takes a swing at the Honda Ridgeline, the 2008 Toyota A-BAT is all naked this morning, so we snagged some exterior shots for you. Toyota is bringing some new ammo to the expanding tailgate-features arms race, with a built-in flashlight and First Aid kit. We'll bring you more details after the Toyota Press Conference later this morning, but for now you'll have to live with the press release below the jump. More »
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This is it — whatever "it" is. Actually "it" is Toyota's newest concept they'll be bringing to the Detroit Auto Show in two weeks, the A-BAT Concept Pickup Truck. And A-BAT is more than just a winged rat, it's actually, as we're told by our friends at PickupTruck.com, an acronym for "Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck." That's a name that has us kinda scratching our heads. How did Toyota name a concept vehicle a "breakthrough" when it looks like the love child of some sort of menage-a-truck involving the Honda Ridgeline, the Chevy Avalanche and the Toyota Prius. Yeah, you heard us — the Toyota Prius — you know, for that tint of green. But despite what appears to our eyes as the obvious Ridgeline-esque styling, Toyota claims the look of this unibody-platformed concept truck is unique — based on "the 'trapezoid' silhouette from the side profile of the Toyota Prius." But don't think for a moment this concept is all car and no truck. The A-BAT's able to shed the five-person crew-cab-like set-up with a tiny four-foot bed and transform itself into a two-seat "El Camino" configuration with a full eight-foot bed. The transformation's accomplished by dropping both the liftgate and the "midgate" ( that sound you hear is Chevrolet's legal team opening up their briefcases in unison) on either end of the mini-bed.
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Toyota announced today that they will be debuting a new crossover sedan at the Detroit Auto Show. We guess they're hoping to expand their narrow offerings and fill that huge hole between the RAV-4, Matrix and Highlander. The new vehicle will be "a unique blend of sedan and sport utility vehicle." Unique? The new Toyota will offer seating for five, a car-like ride and will have some sort of functional utility (err... AWD?). The 2009 Toyota Venza will be built in the Georgetown, Kentucky plant, which currently produces the Camry, Avalon and Solara. We have no spy photos or teases for you, though we'll throw out the FT SX concept from the 2005 Detroit Auto Show as a possible spiritual heir and maybe a replacement for the Highlander. Press release below the jump. More »
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