By Leftlane Staff
Wednesday, Jan 2nd, 2008 @ 6:05 pm

Toyota will use the Detroit auto show to reveal a new concept vehicle called the A-BAT. The truck offers a glimpse of what a future compact pickup from the Japanese automaker might look like.

The vehicle appears to be intended as a competitor to the Honda Ridgeline . It’s not known if Toyota plans to produce a truck based on the concept.

“Driving from beyond the suburbs to the city is a way of life for many people,” said Kevin Hunter, president, Calty Design Research, Inc. “We’ve taken Toyota’s truck heritage to a different level by envisioning a vehicle capable of maneuvering the suburbs as well as dirt roads.

“This compact truck is as comfortable for long commutes as it is for road trips,” Mr. Hunter said. “It can accommodate outdoor toys and home improvement supplies. Plus, customers benefit from the hybrid powertrain’s low emissions and fuel economy.”

The A-BAT concept rides on a unibody platform. It features a four-foot bed, but overall storage space can grow to as much as eight feet when the midgate is folded down into the cab and the tailgate is opened.

Power for the A-BAT is provided by a four-cylinder gasoline engine mated with Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive.

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