Although sources within Toyota revealed last year that the Japanese automaker was moving forward with a production version of the A-BAT Concept, the compact pickup truck has been put on hold indefinitely. The A-BAT has been moved to the backburner in light of Toyota’s tightening financial situation.
Though the A-BAT project has not been completely cancelled, Toyota will not be moving forward with the program anytime soon. “We have a lot of top priorities right now, and A-BAT isn’t one of them,” Bob Carter, head of Toyota Motor Sales USA, told PickupTrucks.com. “The market has changed dramatically over the last 12 months.”
Like Honda’ Ridgeline, the A-BAT was to be car-based rather than truck-based. Powertrains would have included four-cylinders as well as hybrids.
However, Toyota is facing its second-straight year of financial losses, which has the Japanese automaker more concerned with keeping the ship afloat rather than coming out with niche-market products – no matter how fuel-efficient.
04/14, 2:14 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Well A-MEN to that.
04/14, 2:18 PM
posted by:
VR666
Good call on Toyota’s part. They need to focus on the next-gen Camry, Tacoma, and RAV4 currently. I don’t know sales numbers but they should also move ahead with the next-gen Highlander and Avalon asap. The Corolla and Matrix are new enough as well as DECENT enough to make it through these tough times. The 4Runner should be scrapped immediately. And the Yaris should be trashed as well in favor of something all-new. But if the market brightens up I say give this the green-light. I’d personally love to own one in the right conditions.
04/14, 3:22 PM
posted by:
A4
awww you mean we wont have TWO jap unibody trucks to laugh at? darn.
04/14, 3:38 PM
posted by:
SHOspeed
HAHA, this looks like the biggest piece of crap ive ever seen. Even more of a joke then the Tundra.
04/14, 4:54 PM
posted by:
Impulsive
I thank the Lord AGAIN for saving us from that design disaster and anything remotely close to it.
04/14, 7:15 PM
posted by:
DrFill
VR
This would’ve kicked much ass!
A good-looking Ridgeline would’ve taken mid-size trucks into the 21st century
The Colorado and Ranger would never rebound again if this made production
The domestics dodged a bullet thur
It would’ve been your ass!
And long-live the 4Runner, which still kicks much ass!
DrFill