Click above for a high-res gallery of the Toyota A-BAT Concept.
The new CAFE standards are causing every automaker to rethink what vehicles will populate their lineups come 2020. Toyota's plan could include a production version of the A-BAT concept pickup that was shown in Detroit and possibly some version of the Urban Cruiser that's about to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.
Both models have the potential of lowering Toyota's emissions rating while simultaneously offering consumers the smaller vehicles they might crave in the future. Some version of the A-BAT seems plausible, considering the hole left by other automakers for a purposeful light-duty truck. The Urban Cruiser, essentially a lifted Scion xD, seems like a bit of a stretch, but it could be a microscopic niche that other automakers have yet to exploit.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DarkKnight67 @ Feb 25th 2008 7:44AM
How many segments do they want to own? Oh, yeah, all of them! This has already begun to backfire for them, so just keep dumping.
psarhjinian @ Feb 25th 2008 8:04AM
When I heard "small", I was thinking about the Aygo (which would make a good Smart/Mini competitor for Scion).
Neither of these is really what I think of when I think small.
Menice @ Feb 25th 2008 8:21AM
that nasty A-BAT looks like the subie brat's fat ugly sister
geo.stewart @ Feb 25th 2008 8:27AM
fat ugly sisters need love too.
though I dont see the relation to the brat. you could never get the brat in extended cab and I dont see any rearward facing seats in the bed.
maybe because it is small and lifted a little. now there's a stretch.
I like em both. This is a much better looking vehicle than the Baja. As long as its not 30K like the Baja.
Menice @ Feb 25th 2008 8:57AM
that shot above, (forget about the option packages)
reminds me of one. if your missing it heres a picture :
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/1985SubaruBrat.JPG/800px-1985SubaruBrat.JPG
digging that color too.
the BRAT was cool for subie, this is odd, and actually makes me think the ridgeline aint so bad looking.
i wish Toyota (or someone) would just go back to making a nice, simple, small, affordable to the masses under 16K, pickup. (yea dreaming)
not a blotted toy looking, extra gadget stuffed, overpriced CUV with a bed.
Mr. Oak @ Feb 25th 2008 8:44AM
Curosity question, Has this car company ever had an original thought since the original 4 Runner? I bet Honda is pissed about Toyota copying their "Sissy" truck the Ridgeline.
Travis Rassat @ Feb 25th 2008 9:55AM
That's a good question, Mr. Oak. This is just my opinion, but I don't think Toyota wants or needs to be be original. They just need to be profitable and uphold their perceived reputation for building a quality product. I don't know if that's good or bad, really.
I think they take a good concept and execute it relatively well - or, at least, in a way that is perceived to be better than the previous attempt. They choose to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary because it's safer. Using the A-BAT as an example, obviously it's been done before - the Honda Ridgeline, the Chevy Avalance, the Subaru Brat, Chevy El Camino, Ford Ranchero, etc. - these could all be considered similar in concept. They have all had their share of success or failure. I'm sure Toyota has watched this trend, saw how many sold, and did a risk analysis to see if it is worth producing. I'm sure if they don't think they can sell 100,000 of these, they won't do it.
I think that pretty much holds true for all of the big manufacturers nowadays - nobody seems to be taking any big risks. We need to look to the smaller, more "boutique" companies trying to make themselves a name if we want to see something really fresh, revolutionary and exciting. Actually, I thought that was kind of the reasoning behind Scion.
Anyway, that's just the impression I get, and just my opinion.
psarhjinian @ Feb 25th 2008 10:42AM
Depends how you define "original". A lot of Toyota's originality is invested in it's production process, and even then we're talking about refining and perfecting, not ground-up re-dos. That's kaizen, that's the Toyota way. It's also something that they've lost a bit in the last few years.
As for innovative products, well, that just doesn't happen in North America at all--not from any manufacturer or product. We're a conservative market , and we don't generally accept "new" products in the mass market. Look at how well retro plays here, or how the most popular vehicles here are essentially evolutionary refinements of the same cars we've been buying since the 1940s. Innovation only happens at crisis points.
Read the accounts from the Tokyo Auto Salon and you'll get a perspective on this: there's a lot of innovation, but it's essentially restrcited to the hypercompetitive Japanese market and unsellable in stodgy old North America. Even Toyota, with all their marketing muscle, knows that their JDM innovations (the Scion xB would be a tame example) aren't going to move in large numbers here.
gsolman6 @ Feb 25th 2008 9:01AM
They ought to bring back the original, or revised version, of the Xb while they are at it. No reason it couldn't be powered by the 2.0 Corolla engine with a little diet plan.
psarhjinian @ Feb 25th 2008 10:58AM
The original xB was built off the same platform as the Echo/Yaris/Vitz. It would be a challenge to shoehorn anything above the Echo's 1.5L into that bay. That said, I really liked the original xB even with the Echo's 1.5L. Marketing feedback must have said otherwise, though, which is why the new one grew.
Toyota builds the cars that it's customers want to buy. The single largest issues with the xB (or the RAV4, for that matter) were power and refinement, which Toyota fixed in the latest generation. As much as it sucks for those of us that appreciate light and quick, you cannot fault them for doing exactly what they're asked to do.
Johnnie Flea @ Feb 25th 2008 9:11AM
How about importing the Toyota Hilux Diesel into the US? A light duty truck that gets 30+ MPG, I'd go buy that tomorrow.
Bryan @ Feb 25th 2008 10:30PM
You'll see Diesel Toyota's. When? I dont know, but they're working on it. I can't wait either. Diesel Tacoma...mmmm
Zane @ Feb 25th 2008 9:23AM
For a second, I thought I was looking at the Acura RDX and not Toyota's "urban" cruiser.
mikomi @ Feb 25th 2008 9:25AM
Isn't the Urban Cruiser a Toyota Rush/Daihatsu Terios?
Thirty-Nine @ Feb 25th 2008 10:20AM
The Urban Crusier is just a lifted Scion xD (Toyota Ist). The revised bB in Japan (which I wish they'd bring here) ist he same as a Daihatsu Materia.
mikomi @ Feb 25th 2008 3:45PM
Thanks.
Ty @ Feb 25th 2008 9:56AM
Toyota: Make the A-Bat.
Change its name.
Drop some of the gadgets etc.
Please include a manual.
I will buy it.
Tim @ Feb 25th 2008 9:57AM
Toyota how about the iQ or the aygo or one of the daihatsu copen.
psarhjinian @ Feb 25th 2008 11:07AM
Cool as that would be, they'd be slammed as "too slow".
North Americans want excessive power and space. This is why Toyota sells a V6 RAV4 and Camry with that can smoke a lot of not-very-old sportscars.
AlexP @ Feb 25th 2008 3:54PM
Have you been in the US with your Fit, psa? It's really highway onramps that bothered me the most. They are incredibly short compared to ours and that meant I had to floor my car everytime I wanted to get on the highway.
As I was heading towards Pennsylvania some guy in his Caravan didn't accelerate at all, he matched my car's speed actually, and earlier on (at this time) I was cruising at 67MPH, I was forced to switch lanes because he would slow down and get behind (or the other way around), about 20 seconds later after I got into the left lane he floors it, passes like 4 cars ahead then slows down again, they need power to save themselves from idiots like that.