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.
billt9 says:
03:51 PM, 12/27/07
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?
rsholland says:
04:24 PM, 12/27/07
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.
SubyTrojan says:
04:45 PM, 12/27/07
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.
rsholland says:
04:55 PM, 12/27/07
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.
SubyTrojan says:
05:02 PM, 12/27/07
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.
rsholland says:
05:02 PM, 12/27/07
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
desmolicious says:
06:59 PM, 12/27/07
Oh yay! Another Toyota with miserable beyond belief visability!
stovt001 says:
09:15 PM, 12/27/07
^ +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.
onlygmmatters says:
06:11 AM, 12/28/07
"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?
dougtheeng says:
07:08 AM, 12/28/07
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?).
rick8365 says:
07:08 AM, 12/28/07
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.
firstwagon says:
10:09 AM, 12/28/07
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.
estreka says:
12:51 PM, 12/28/07
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.
SubyTrojan says:
11:39 AM, 01/ 4/08
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
superglide says:
08:00 PM, 01/11/08
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.