2008 Detroit Auto Show Preview, Toyota's A-BAT Concept Compact Truck

Well, we're slowly starting to get some sneak peaks at what the Detroit Auto Show is going to showcase, and this one's from Toyota. I've never wondered if you married a Honda Element with a Honda Ridgeline before, but in case you have, I think this would be a pretty close rendition. Jokes aside, it's a pretty cool concept.

The uni-body pickup has a four-foot bed that can be extended two feet forward via a fold down mid-gate and another two feet back with the tailgate down. Even with its extended cab, the A-BAT still measures 27" shorter overall than a current extended cab Tacoma and even 9" less than a regular cab Tacoma. In typical Toyota fashion these days the A-BAT uses the Hybrid Synergy Drive with a four-cylinder gas engine. There's no mention of the engine size or drive layout, but the short hood points to a transverse layout driving the front wheels.