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Toyota A-BAT will remain a concept... for now

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Hybrid, Truck, Scion, Toyota

Toyota A-BAT Concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Bob Carter, Toyota Motor Sales USA's vice president and general manager, told our man Mike Levine from PickupTrucks.com that the Toyota A-BAT is on indefinite hold. According to Carter, "We have a lot of top priorities right now, and A-BAT isn't one of them."

Although news of the A-BAT's imminent arrival was circulating as early as February, Toyota's decision to put the project on hold doesn't come as a surprise. With auto sales down overall - and pick-ups being hit particularly hard in the last year - the business case for a compact, hybrid truck would be hard to justify.

Originally, it was assumed the A-BAT would be sold as a Scion, but with the "youth" brand's renewed focus on smaller vehicles (ala the Scion iQ concept that debuted at the New York Auto Show), a pick-up would be in stark contrast to the rest of the line-up.

"The market has changed dramatically over the last 12 months." Carter told Pickuptrucks.com, "We always keep reprioritizing - under good economic or recessionary times - what our planning is. [For now, the A-BAT is] on the shelf."

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Toyota A-BAT Concept

[Source: Pickuptrucks]

Toyota A-BAT will remain a concept... for now originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Toyota Prius coupe in the works

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Truck, Green, Toyota

Even though Toyota has made it clear that a separate Prius brand isn't a sure thing, that doesn't mean that more body styles of the iconic fuel miser aren't on their way. The latest speculative Prius variant comes courtesy of MotorTrend, which has mocked up a rendering of what a Toyota Prius coupe could look like. Although the idea of a 2+2 hybrid with a lower roofline and some sporting pretenses might seem odd given the Prius' main claim to fame, Toyota doesn't want to be left out in the cold when the also-hybrid Honda CR-Z goes on sale within the next two years.

Predictably, the coupe would share the same drivetrain as its five-door stable-mate, consisting of a new 1.8-liter engine (300cc larger than the current Prius) while returning fuel economy on par or exceeding the outgoing model. The coupe would be lighter than the sedan, allowing the 2+2 to be both quicker and possibily more fuel-efficient.

MT also mentions that the production version of the Toyota A-BAT is still in limbo as the automaker determines under which brand it wants to sell the hybrid pickup. It was originally thought the A-BAT would be offered as a Scion, but Toyota's pledge to only offer one generation of each model in its "youth" brand and the automaker's need to bring its CAFE numbers in check might mean that the A-BAT will don a Toyota badge when (if?) it goes on sale after 2010.

[Source: MotorTrend]

Rumormill: Toyota Prius coupe in the works originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota considers building A-BAT truck, cancels small diesel

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Truck, Green, Toyota

Click above for more high-res images of the Toyota A-BAT Concept

Despite the fact that its full-sized truck competitors from Ford, General Motors and Dodge will all offer new small-displacement diesel engines within the next year or so, Toyota has reportedly canceled plans for a similar powertrain for its Tundra. Instead of dumping money into the stalled full-size market, the automaker has reportedly contacted key suppliers for quotes on systems for its radical A-BAT concept truck from the Detroit Auto Show. Powertrain choices for the trucklet would include a traditional four-cylinder option along with a hybrid drivetrain, possibly sourced from the Camry hybrid. If it went into production, the A-BAT would join the lonely Ford Ranger in the small pickup market and would use a uni-body platform in lieu of a full frame, which is standard fare on most other trucks. Then again, it may never be given the green-light for production at all.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Toyota A-BAT Concept

[Sources: PickupTrucks.com, Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Toyota considers building A-BAT truck, cancels small diesel originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota considering adding two more small vehicles to U.S. lineup

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:02:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Truck, Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Toyota

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.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Toyota A-BAT Concept

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Toyota A-BAT Concept - Live Reveal

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Toyota considering adding two more small vehicles to U.S. lineup originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota seriously considering A-BAT: The Prius of pickups?

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:37:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Toyota

click above for a high-res gallery of the Toyota A-BAT concept

We've harped on the fact that this market is ready for a small truck that splits the difference between full-sizers of today and compact pickups of yore. While many in the industry are skeptical about whether such a vehicle could be a sales success, Toyota is looking hard at the A-BAT concept, which debuted in Detroit as a vehicle that could slot in below the Tacoma.

Toyota execs are keeping a close eye on how the public responds to the hybrid trucklet while it makes the rounds of the national show circuit, and hopes that it garners the same amount of interest that the FJ Cruiser concept did, which was instrumental in bringing it to market.

While it's debatable that a hybrid truck sporting some of the high-tech features and unibody structure of the A-BAT is a viable product, the idea might be sound, and Toyota wants to be at the forefront of the small truck revolution if it does come to fruition.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Toyota A-BAT Concept

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Toyota A-BAT Concept - Live Reveal

Toyota seriously considering A-BAT: The Prius of pickups? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Toyota A-BAT Concept revealed after dark

John Neff — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 23:27:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Toyota

click above for more high-res images of the Toyota A-BAT Concept

After the first day of the 2008 Detroit Auto Show press days ended, some of us decided to take up Toyota on its invite to a reception at which we were greeted by the live reveal of the A-BAT concept hybrid pickup. Though images of the A-BAT were released some time ago and we know all about the unibody pickup's hybrid synergy drivetrain and Chevy Avalanche-like midgate, we were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves not hating the design as much as we thought we would. It's odd, for sure, but it's a concept and there's artistic license to be had there. The actual size of the A-BAT, however, is smaller than its chunky flanks and expanse of sheet metal suggest. It makes us long for the compact pickup segment to be revived with trucks that are actually, you know, compact. Like the new 2009 Dodge Ram, the A-BAT also features storage compartments in its bed rails, as well as a first-aid kit in the tailgate. Aside from the hybrid drivetrain, its green cred is further bolstered by solar panels embedded in the dash to drive the accessories. All good stuff, of course, but we just want a small pickup with one of those efficient yet torquey clean diesels everyone's talking about. Perhaps if Toyota hears our collective demand for such a vehicle, a version of the A-BAT might actually be produced.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Toyota A-BAT Concept - Live Reveal

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Toyota A-BAT Concept

Continue reading Detroit 2008: Toyota A-BAT Concept revealed after dark

Detroit 2008: Toyota A-BAT Concept revealed after dark originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 23:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Ins and Outs of the Toyota A-BAT Concept hybrid pickup

John Neff — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 23:57:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Videos, Toyota

Mike Levine from Pickuptruck.com first tipped us off that the Scion brand might be considering a pickup for its youth-targeted lineup. In the video above, Levine explains why the A-BAT hybrid pickup concept ended up being a Toyota truck rather than the Scion we were expecting, as well as going over every feature and design detail of what we've come to call the "Toyota Ridgeline".

From your comments, we gather that the A-BAT's design is not what you would call... attractive. As one commenter put it, "(It's) like a Ridgeline, but uglier with bigger blind spots." Touché sir. Nevertheless, we'd welcome a truly small and modern pickup back into the market, just not this one. We'll defer to another commenter who said what was exactly on our minds: "Just bring back the small pick-up and with a strong diesel and 6-speed. It'll get 40+mpg." If wishing made it so.

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Toyota A-BAT Concept

VIDEO: Ins and Outs of the Toyota A-BAT Concept hybrid pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 23:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit '08 Preview: Toyota A-BAT hybrid pickup concept

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:18:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Truck, Toyota

click above to view more images of the Toyota A-BAT Concept

Perhaps in response to the criticism that Toyota has received over the past year from environmentalists for its ever larger and thirstier trucks, the Japanese automaker is switching direction with its 2008 Detroit concept - the A-BAT hybrid pickup concept. Toyota and Nissan pioneered the idea of modern compact pickup trucks in the U.S. market, but Toyota has largely left it behind over the past decade. The new A-BAT concept pickup is 27 inches shorter than an extended cab Tacoma and nine inches shorter than the regular cab model. In profile, the uni-body truck looks somewhat like a shorter Honda Ridgeline with rounder contours. The A-BAT is the first Toyota to have a mid-gate allowing cargo longer than the standard four-foot bed to extend into the cab. With the tailgate down, drivers can pack the proverbial 4x8 sheet of plywood. Power for the A-BAT comes from Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive mated to a four-cylinder engine, although so far there is no indication of which wheels get propulsion. Based on the snub-nosed styling, it seems probable that the engine is transversely mounted and driving the front wheels, but we'll find out for sure when the A-BAT officially debuts at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month.

[Source: Toyota]

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Toyota A-BAT Concept

Continue reading Detroit '08 Preview: Toyota A-BAT hybrid pickup concept

Detroit '08 Preview: Toyota A-BAT hybrid pickup concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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