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Toyota is displaying a new hybrid pick-up truck
concept at the 2008 North American International Auto Show beginning on
Monday 14th January in Detroit.
The
concept vehicle called A-BAT even has solar panels on the dash which
capture energy from the sun to assist in the charging of the navigation
unit, portable power pack and backlit information displays. It’s also
got lots of lightweight materials inside including carbon fibre and
aluminium.
It’s
got a portable power pack which is said to offer both AC and DC for a
wide variety of applications including “powering tools, electrical gear
while camping, a laptop computer, small appliances or assisting a
vehicle jump start.”
Big stuff in the
cab can stick through the roof, and the pick up bed can be extended in
a range of ways, all ideal for Americans going shopping or camping.
“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 manoeuvring the suburbs as well as dirt roads. This compact
truck is as comfortable for long commutes as it is for road trips. It
can accommodate outdoor toys and home improvement supplies. Plus,
customers benefit from the hybrid powertrain’s low emissions and fuel
economy.”
Don’t expect to see this
vehicle in the UK in the near future, the concept seems to be designed
purely for the American market. As well as the Prius providing the
engine, it’s also supposed to have influenced the design. Oh, as well
as a NATO all-terrain military truck. A strange experiment in
cross-breeding then.
