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"  Toyota has a recent history of turning Detroit auto show truck concepts into reality. The FTX Concept became today&amp;#039;s Tundra and the FJ Cruiser Concept was brought to market, virtually unchanged, as the FJ Cruiser. In 2008 Toyota is showing the A-BAT Concept. A-BAT is essentially a lightweight, high-utility hybrid compact pickup. And it&amp;#039;s a concept that we think makes sense. A-BAT is smaller than a Tacoma. In fact the chassis is slightly larger than today&amp;#039;s RAV4. The platform is car-based, like the RAV, and has a four-cylinder hybrid drivetrain.  A-BAT&amp;#039;s interior has a removable power pack between the front seats, offering AC and DC current to power anything from tools to appliances to a laptop. The flat-top dash houses twin solar panels to help charge the pack as well as the nav and information display. Interestingly, Toyota says it is working on production solar systems to power vehicle acces\u00ADsories on future models.  Unlike conventional pickups, A-BAT offers a translucent sliding roof panel that moves forward to accommodate taller objects in the bed space. A midgate behind the rear seat folds flat for an extra 2 ft. of bed length. Fold the tailgate down, too, and A-BAT&amp;#039;s bed will accept a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood. Bed-space flexibility is a key feature for future pickup designs. Even if the A-BAT doesn&amp;#039;t make production, the sliding roof is a cool idea.  Toyota&amp;#039;s competitors already produce pickups with deep storage bins underneath the bed. Problem is, you can&amp;#039;t open the bin when the bed is full. Toyota&amp;#039;s sliding drawer design gives up substantial box depth for anytime access. The bed itself also includes auxiliary tailgate lighting, an integrated first-aid kit, flashlight, power outlet and sliding tiedown points for securing cargo.  The A-BAT is a smart concept that combines the utility of a compact pickup with the smooth ride and fuel economy of a hybrid SUV. Let&amp;#039;s hope Toyota brings it to market. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a2444/4242964/>