TOYOTA A-BAT CONCEPT WITH PHOTOS

The A-BAT offers customers the versatility of hauling a standard 4x8 sheet of plywood one day, then taking a family on a camping trip the next. It features a four-foot bed with more flexibility than the standard pickup truck. The translucent roof panel slides open to allow for tall cargo in the cab; and the bed lengthens an additional two feet when the pass-through midgate is folded down into the cab.

The rugged exterior of the A-BAT is contrasted by the four-passenger modern interior. The door trim, shoulder, armrest and instrument panel pads and seat cushions are made of a tough, lightweight and comfortable material that can be selected for personalization. In addition, the colors are coordinated to enhance the sleek interior environment.

Inside, the A-BAT has a retractable, portable navigation unit with a seven-inch diagonal screen and Wi-Fi Internet. Other advanced features include a port for portable device assistant synchronization and a hard drive for digital music. The solar panels on the dash recapture energy from the sun to assist in the charging of the navigation unit, portable power pack and backlit information displays.

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TOYOTA RAV4 EV CONCEPT with photos

The first-generation Toyota RAV4 EV went into production in 1997. Powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery pack, it had a real world driving range of 80-110 miles on a single charge. 1,484 vehicles were sold or leased in the U.S., and more than half of those are still on the road today.

The second-generation RAV4 EV demonstration vehicle represents an important milestone in Toyota’s unique collaboration project with Tesla. A key aspect of the partnership is to establish a new product development model that incorporates Tesla’s streamlined, quick-action approach. Under this new process, Tesla is responsible for supplying the powertrain and related components according to Toyota engineering specifications while Toyota works to seamlessly integrate the powertrain.

In comparison to the RAV4 V6, the RAV4 EV electric powertrain adds 220 pounds, yet the rate of acceleration is nearly equal. Actual real world driving range is approximately 100 miles from a full battery charge. The demonstration vehicle features distinct exterior styling changes, including a new front bumper, grille, head lamps, fog lamps, and 18” alloy wheels. The interior received custom seat trim, multimedia dash displays, push-button shifter and dashboard meters. The RAV4 platform brings a 73-cubic-foot cargo area with rear seats folded down – no cargo space was lost in the conversion to an electric powertrain. The technical features and appearance of the RAV4 EV demonstration vehicle will serve as targets for the fully engineered, market-ready vehicle, expected to launch in 2012. 

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Top 10 concept cars that never made it to production

CONCEPT CARS are part of the automotive industry, and have been for the last 50 years. We love them, but the problem is a lot of them never make it into production.

Car manufacturers often like to just give us teasers of up and coming ‘design influences’, as opposed to actually building the damn sexy car they’ve just mocked up.

It is an annoying notion, so with that being said, here are the ten best looking concepts that were never given the go-ahead:

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