Honey, I shrunk the pickup

After Tundra, Toyota ponders the green truck

mark williams

AS FORD and Dodge reveal their new full-size half-ton trucks, Toyota is showing a subcompact pickup concept at this year’s North American International Auto Show. It’s named the A-BAT (Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck). Looking to lure urban youth drivers who need versatile transportation for myriad lifestyle activities, Toyota is banking that a crossover pickup will be the new look the sagging segment needs. Born from a unibody platform with several key truck personality traits, the A-BAT uses a strong, muscular cab-forward exterior design with many multitasking surprises in the four-foot bed and futuristic interior. This concept uses Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive and a new all-wheel-drive system, with a wheelbase two inches longer than a Highlander and an overall length right on top of the RAV4. Reaction at the show will be important…

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MotorTrend (Digital) - 1 Issue, February 2008

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