Will Toyota roll out a hybrid pickup?

Chrysler unveils electric cars; Mazda2 may be coming; luxury hybrids from Benz, BMW

Sep 27, 2008

Special to the Star

In an attempt to offer a modicum of utility with a generous amount of frugality, Toyota seems to be moving ahead with the production of its Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck – or A-BAT – gasoline-electric hybrid pickup.

Although Toyota is officially saying that no decision to move ahead has been made, there are reports that suppliers have been asked to bid on making parts for the truck in both a gas-only four-cylinder and hybrid-powered iterations.

That doesn't necessarily mean the A-BAT has been green-lighted.

"This is a common next step in evaluating cost parameters on promising concepts, but it does not imply a commitment to it yet," said a senior Toyota executive.

Toyota says market research for the A-BAT, which debuted at the Detroit auto show last January, has been highly positive.

Although likened to other car-based pickups like Honda's Ridgeline, the actual size of the A-BAT is more compact, like Ford's Ranger.

Chrysler thinks electric

Chrysler made a huge splash this week, jumping on the electric-vehicle bandwagon by debuting three offerings, one promised for 2010. Chrysler announced a Lotus Europa-based all-electric Dodge EV sports car plus a Chrysler Town & Country EV minivan and Jeep Wrangler EV.

The Town & Country and Wrangler EVs are said to target the same performance numbers as the 2010 Chevrolet Volt: a range of 64 km on one electric charge, with an on-board gas engine for extended-range capabilities.

But the Dodge EV, to be jointly developed with Lotus Cars Ltd., is the big question mark. Mainly because Chrysler hopes to use lithium-ion batteries (the kind found in cellphones and laptops), an unproven solution that may not be ready for prime time just yet.

Is Mazda2 coming?

With gas prices consistently over $1.20 per litre, Canadian new-car buyers can't get enough subcompacts. Small cars like the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent or Toyota Yaris are either back-ordered or hard to find on dealer lots.

So why is Mazda hesitating to bring its subcompact Mazda2 to North America?

"The Mazda2 is a very good product, and we've received very strong requests from dealers. But it is still under study," said Mazda president Hisakazu Imaki in a report about the possibility of the small car's North American debut.

"One of the biggest factors (for why) the decision hasn't been made is that the Mazda3 is still enjoying strong sales," Imaki said.

As the compact Mazda3 is the automaker's best-selling car in North America, by far, that seems logical.

But are corporate team orders delaying the Mazda2 from our shores?

Next year, parent Ford is gearing up to launch its Mexican-made Fiesta, which shares its platform with the subcompact Mazda.

If gas prices stay high, expect Mazda to launch its 2 about a year after the Fiesta's had its exclusive time in the spotlight.

Hybrid meets luxury

Lexus will shortly have some competition in the relatively minuscule luxury hybrid market.

Coming next week at the Paris Motor Show as direct rivals to the $117,700 Lexus LS 600h L, we'll see the respective reveals of BMW and Mercedes-Benz gasoline-hybrid versions of their full-size – and so-called green – luxury sedans.

Both new German hybrids use the same system co-developed with General Motors and Chrysler that has already debuted in various pickups and SUVs, like the Chevrolet Tahoe.

The similarities between the two Teutonic sedans, though, stop there.

Compared to either Lexus or BMW, Mercedes has taken a more frugal approach.

Its S400 BlueHybrid starts with a 3.5-litre V6 and adds a 20 hp electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack. Total horsepower runs to 299, but the big sedan produces only 190 grams of CO2 per kilometre, a number Mercedes says makes it the greenest luxobarge out there.

Sharing the same 20 hp system as the Mercedes, the BMW throws in a not-so-green 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8. With 427 hp in BMW's 750i ActiveHybrid, drivers could be blowing by the forest so quickly, it may be difficult to hug any trees.

Saab's alive and kicking

Despite Saab's slumping sales (only Porsche and Jaguar sold fewer cars in Canada last month), General Motors seems adamant in resuscitating its premium brand with yet another concept.

Officially, the 9-X Air BioHybrid, to be revealed at next week's Paris Motor Show, is a design study "exploring what a future open-air Saab could look like."

The 9-X Air seats four and features a unique "canopy top" with a wraparound glasshouse that includes the rear screen. GM said it was designed alongside the 9-X BioHybrid concept, thus it shares its 1.4-litre Saab BioPower four-cylinder turbocharged engine, which can use E85 bioethanol fuel and hybrid technology.

Unofficially, the 9-X Air is more than likely a fanciful precursor to the next 9-3. It will move down a size from the current mid-size GM platform it shares with the likes of the Saturn Aura to the compact platform that will underpin the next-generation Saturn Astra.

Toronto Star