2008 Detroit Auto Show: Toyota A-BAT concept

Its no surprise that the designers of the Toyota A-BAT concept think its unique. After all, they claim to have been inspired by everything from a NATO military truck to their very own Prius. So why does the A-BAT look so familiar? Maybe because its only a few design strokes away from the
Dodge Rampage concept shown at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show...
So is the Toyota A-BAT unique? Maybe. New? Not quite.
- Permalink | Comments (15)
- Posted by: Ed Hellwig December 27, 2007, 3:41 PM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrids, Toyota, Trucks
That's like saying an Accord looks like a Camry.
It doesn't really look like a Rampage. Just shares a body style.
This class is simply growing, The Avalanche, Ridgline, and now the Toyota.
The difference between the Dodge and the Toyota is that the Dodge will never be built.
Shouldn't it be on the market by now?
Clearly the success of the Ridgeline is being noticed by Toyota. I expect other Ridgeline-inspired trucks to appear from other truckmakers in the not too distant future.
I don't know if I would call the Ridgeline a "success." Unless I'm mistaken, its sales are struggling and dealer inventories are high.
It won Motor Trend's Truck of the Year award in 2006 if I remember correctly. The question to be asked is: What were the other vehicles competing against it for the award? Case closed.
I can't speak for national sales, or perhaps better stated—what their goals were? One thing I know for sure: Where I live Ridgelines are EVERYWHERE.
The vehicle may have taken a while to take hold with the public, but in my neck of the woods there is clearly Ridgeline fever.
That's good to know, Bob!
I wonder if Sylvia knows the users' locations are being displayed on the Long-Term Road Test blog and here. The Edmunds blogs seem to be okay at this time.
For what it's worth, here's an editorial I did back in 2005 on the Ridgeline for Subdriven.com. I still stand by those comments.
http://www.subdriven.com/news/publish/Features/article_338.shtml
Oh yay! Another Toyota with miserable beyond belief visability!
^ +1 Excellent
I saw a couple Ridgelines when they first came out, but now, nothing. Wow, even in the land of Corollas and Civics with 20 foot spoilers and coffee can exhausts I guess there was a limit to the disconnect consumer are willing to have between appearance and reality.
In the end, I'd rather just have a Ute.
"Oh yay! Another Toyota with miserable beyond belief visability!"
Don't forget another POS Toyota plagued with sludged engines, bad transmissions, busted cams, cheap interior all wrapped up in one flimsy, cheap little deathtrap. Just like the ugly Fridgeline "I wannabe a pickup truck" this car will have none of the capabilities of a real truck and on top of that will be just another Toyota that will live in the service bay fixing all of its problems and recalls while the rest of us have stuck by our bulletproof Silverados and Colorados. You know, real trucks?
I think this concept is pretty sleek looking, and certainly better than its Dodge counterpart.
From the side profile, the front end looks lights remind me of the old model Trebecia (sp?).
Based only on appearance......I'd take the Rampage.
Bob, Ridgelines are everywhere on the Jersey Shore too. An innovative package, I've even contemplated putting one in my driveway.
LOL....And everyone complains that Chinese manufactors steal ideas from other cars makers. Toyota should know beter.
At least Dodge had the good taste not to build such an ugly and impractical truck.
I was going to say it looks like a Ridgeline, but after remembering the Rampage, I take it back. That really is near copyright infringement.
While the Ridgeline isn't popular here, I would say there are a fair number of them on the roads. And I must say, they look fantastic when fixed up.
Slightly OT: Honda Ridgeline sales in 2007 weren't great.
http://www.autoobserver.com/2008/01/2007-a-historic.html#more - scroll down to the Honda section
Well I'm a longtime Toyota pickup owner, and had my share of GM behemoth trucks too... but the Rampage is much better looking, and has sliding back doors, fold flat floors, and other things in its favor... but it's got a damn Hemi under the hood, so it's worthless too. But if the Rampage had a 4 cylinder Cummins under the hood, I'd be in line for one.