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12-27-2007, 10:19 PM
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#1 (permalink) |
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Drives: 2009 Camry Hybrid (company car)
Posts: 11,787
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NAIAS 08: Toyota A-Bat
 Toyota's presence at the Detroit auto shows past has trumpeted its big, big, big trucks and SUVs, from the new Tundra to the Sequoia. But this year coming, with fuel-economy rules changing, Toyota is staking out some greener territory with a concept pickup truck derived -- like Honda's Ridgeline -- from passenger-car running gear. The A-Bat concept, Toyota says, returns the company to its compact truck roots. Penned at the company's southern California design center, CALTY, the A-Bat sits on a unibody architecture and uses a version of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system for "excellent fuel economy," Toyota says. The A-Bat is smaller than Toyota's mid-size Tacoma pickup, which is based on a traditional ladder frame. Toyota says the smaller dimensions and car-based running gear would give a production version of the A-Bat more car-like handling and a smooth ride. The concept sits on 19-inch wheels for a dash of truck tougness. The most important feature, the truck bed, is a four-foot affair with a flexible pass-through that adds another two feet to the bed. The putative 4x8 sheet of plywood will fit in the A-Bat, and taller cargo can ride in the cabin, poking through a sliding panel. The bed also includes formed-in lighting, a first aid kit and flashlights, as well as an AC power outlet. The bed panels slide around to expose more storage areas, and the bed floor also slides to expose a storage drawer, like Honda's Ridgeline has its storage locker below the bed. The A-Bat's cockpit is more unconventional than, say, a Dodge Ram Mega Cab. A center console incorporates an AC/DC portable power pack that can be used to run tools, computer or even give a jump start. Carbon-fiber-look trim is teamed with rim on the doors and instrument panel than can be personalized. And the four-seat cabin offers flexible seats that fold down for bed space, or retract beneath the cargo bed entirely. High-tech features in the concept include a portable navigation system, wireless internet, a music hard drive, and solar panels on the roof that capture energy and use it to charge the navigation system and power pack. DIMENSIONS (inches) Overall Length: 181.3 Overall Width: 74.4 Overall Height: 64.0 Wheelbase: 112.2 Bed Length: 48.0 Bed Length with Midgate down: 72.0 Bed Length with Midgate and Tailgate down: 96.0 Wheel Size: 19-inch    
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Sure, I drive a Toyota, but at least I don't have to pay for it. 
Last edited by Rex Raider : 12-27-2007 at 10:23 PM. |
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12-27-2007, 10:31 PM
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#4 (permalink) |
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2.0 Liter Supercharged ECOTEC
Join Date: Feb 2005
Drives: 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT LS COUPE
Posts: 193
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Re: NAIAS 08: Toyota A-Bat
Maybe they have achieved producing a reliable tailgate on this one.
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Current Fleet: 2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT-Dad 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt LS Coupe-Me 2008 Saturn VUE-XR6-Mom 
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12-27-2007, 10:31 PM
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#6 (permalink) |
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5.3 Liter LS4 V8
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,590
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Re: NAIAS 08: Toyota A-Bat
Pretty bad when Toyota starts copying Honda! This is a Ridgeline ripoff mixed with horrible Rav4 and Tundra cues...! woof
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John Crichton: It's beer o'clock. Where's my riot? 
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12-27-2007, 10:44 PM
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#8 (permalink) | |
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6.0 Liter LS2 V8
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,234
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Re: NAIAS 08: Toyota A-Bat
I think the designer of this thing was hit with a bat when he was designing this concept
 plus it kind of looks like this
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Quote:
 Hungry ,eat your import Last edited by 1931Chevy : 12-27-2007 at 10:53 PM. |
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12-27-2007, 10:54 PM
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#11 (permalink) |
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2.2 Liter ECOTEC
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 72
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Re: NAIAS 08: Toyota A-Bat
What the heck is that? Baffled! I hate the way car companies are shaping exterior metal to make it look stronger than it really is. It makes these cars look ungainly. They should have called this one the Toyota Pugg (no offense to Puggs!). I know it's a concept and all but the Ridgeline and Tundra prove that this strange "truck look" can make it to production. Please, I know GM made this some design mistake with the Aztek, but at least the General learned from it.
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12-27-2007, 10:57 PM
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#12 (permalink) | |
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5.3 Liter LS4 V8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Windsor Ontario, Canada
Drives: 2004 Chevy Silverado Z71;
1987 Plymouth Reliant
Posts: 3,898
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Re: NAIAS 08: Toyota A-Bat
Quote:
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eXcelon inside ... Aut viam inveniam aut faciam  Always Part of the Solution If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find him, maybe you can hire Uzzy. |
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12-27-2007, 11:07 PM
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#15 (permalink) |
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3.8 Liter V6
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Cary, NC
Drives: 1994 Camaro Z28
2000 Camaro
Posts: 438
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Re: NAIAS 08: Toyota A-Bat
Oh God. My eyes......
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Webshots: My Camaros, the Camaro Concepts, and Buick in China Past Cars: 1974 Chevrolet Monte Carlo - 1984 Chevrolet Impala - 1998 Pontiac Grand Am Present Cars: 1994 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro Next Car: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS |
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