When Japanese pickup trucks first appeared on the scene, they were much smaller than their domestic counterparts. In the 1970’s and 80’s, not much of what was coming out of Japan could be considered anything more than a midsize vehicle, and these
mini-trucks fit well into the overall
Toyota lineup. Companies such as
Dodge were quick to enter the
mini-truck market as well by re-badging Mitsubishis as the
Dodge D50 and bringing out the
Plymouth Rampage half truck / half economy car. However, buyers in North America preferred their trucks to be a little larger and a lot more practical, and it was the
Ford Rangers and
Dodge Dakotas who took the place of the tiny trucks. Gradually, these small trucks began to balloon in size themselves, and in the last decade the difference in size between an entry level pickup and a full size has decreased significantly. While this growth has given these smaller pickups far greater capabilities than their earlier incarnations, especially when it comes to hauling and towing capacity, it has come at a price. These trucks now face the same size and fuel mileage issues that made people turn away from full size pickups in the first place. It is much harder now for the thrifty buyer to find an economical truck solution.
This sets the stage for
Toyota to once again make a foray into the market for trucks that aren’t quite big enough to be useful, yet are still not small enough to be considered convenient. Like most manufacturers,
Toyota has been absent for quite some time from the world of
mini-trucks, preferring instead to target full size pickup buyers with the Tacoma and let their cute-utes such as the Rav 4 deal with those looking for a smaller truck. It appears as though that is about to change after
Toyota introduced the A-BAT hybrid concept at the Detroit Auto Show.
Boasting an unusual appearance, the A-BAT is a 4 door truck with a sloping roofline that extends down on either side of a 4 foot cargo bed. The cargo bed can be extended up to 6 feet by lowering the tailgate, matching a short box full sized pickup. If you need vertical space, the transparent roof has a panel which slides open to accommodate tall cargo. As with most concept trucks, storage compartments abound, including a large unit located underneath the main cargo area. The interior design is a bit less bizarre but no less futuristic, with a strange-looking steering wheel and information screens instead of gauges for both the passenger and the driver. Rear seats fold down to add to the already impressive storage capacity. The concept doesn’t offer anything new under the hood, as it is powered by Toyota’s standard 4 cylinder hybrid gas / electric system that can be found in many of their sport utilities.
When approaching a concept vehicle such as this, it is necessary to ask why
Toyota felt the need to explore this niche. Are there really that many people out there who are looking for an ecologically friendly pickup truck to replace their small sport utility? Smaller pickups did not get bigger with each passing year simply as a function of style, but because larger trucks are simply more useful. A vehicle like the A-BAT, while certainly stylish, will have a hard time competing with larger framed trucks that can out haul and out tow it with ease. It is clear that
Toyota is targeting people who are more likely to be carrying a tent or a few pairs of skis instead of a load of bricks or heavy equipment, and the A-BAT can be seen as more of a toy than a serious work truck.
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April 28, 2008, 3:18 pm
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