Next up for the Prius Family - The Prius t for Truck?

For the RX450h AWD: Tow Capacity (max) 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) (with optional Towing Prep Package) [10] [11]
RX Hybrid | Detailed Specifications

 

Thanks, I guess the optional Towing Prep package contains additional cooling. My info may be out of date from RX400h.

 

It was available on the 400h too.

As far as I know, it contains a bigger radiator, a bigger transmission cooler, and a bigger alternator. Only $238 from the dealership, so really it is peanuts overall.

 

I like the idea of a hybrid unibody compact pickup truck, but that abat concept vehicle looks lame. Maybe they can retool it an make it not look like an artist could decide what he wanted to build.

To get the mileage up, they really need to be building a plug in, and their is ample room for batteries in a pick up. I agree with others that it should be 4wd and have enough towing capacity to take a boat. Toyota should definitely have the knowledge to do that. I vote yes as long as it is a well thought out prius-t, and not the abat.

 

Like I stated above, it would work very well for my needs.

I would only hope the back seat area flips down like in the Avalanche so I can load long objects like fence posts and such.

 

It would work well for my brother in CA also. He was excited when the concept came out. He uses his truck to tow motocycle to the track.

 

Except there isn't any little trucks anymore. After the Ranger goes in 2012, they will all be mid-size or larger. They are smaller in comparison, but their advantage in fuel economy isn't that large. Once loaded up, there might not be any.

That will change once the smaller trucks start getting updated transmissions and engines. But if the economy gap isn't great enough, or gas prices high enough, the larger trucks will still win out. People just don't seem willing to downgrade.

I'm hoping Mahindra finally comes to market. Diesels will likely be the future of trucks. They are cleaner than before, and most truck buyers don't put as much weight to emissions as factor for vehicle choice. So that hybrid advantage won't be seen as such.

 

With what they save on a small truck they could buy all the viagra they need. That would solve the need for a truck and their other problem.

 

Unfortunately, insulting people over their purchasing decisions infrequently encourages purchase, so the marketing department of Toyota will have to do more than that.

This thing again reminds me exactly of the Subaru Baja. From wiki:

Maybe Toyota knows something I don't and gas prices are going to hit $30/gallon so that a prius truck makes sense.

 

The old reason for the compacts was price. I still have hopes that the ranger is redesign instead of killed. With gas prices high, there is probably room for an efficient pickup. Maybe a ranger witlh an ecoboost 4 cylinder with a six speed and auto stop. It would not be as inexpensive as the old rangers but would get good fuel economy compared to an f100 or tacoma.

Diesels are what run large trucks today. California's CARB is trying to kill diesels, and only the poor economy postponed their plans. This only is in carb states but it effects new truck designes. Clean diesel, hybrids, and more efficient gasoline engines using diesel tech like ecoboost is the future. A severely mangled cafe standard helped bring about the market distortion of large trucks. I hope the revision of these standards helps make them have better fe. A prius-t could help, but it needs to be a good truck first. Driving a compact pickup with good fe should not be a downgrade.

 

In that case, thank you for encouraging people to buy small trucks with your comment.

 

Unfortunetly, the Ranger is gone. It was supposed to be gone in 2009, and the global Ranger replacement caught the bloat creep. It's now midsized, and won't be coming here because Ford doesn't want it competing with the F150.

Perhaps it will be back in time. Maybe based on the Escape, or Escape replacement.

 

This doesn't even make sense.

 

I think this would be a disaster for prius if it's released. Trucks are purpose built for hauling and towing. A contractor will not pull into a construction site with this. The Honda Ridgeline sucks because it can't do what a truck is made to do. Toyota would be smart to create a plug-in hybrid system for the Tacoma as long as it doesn't sacrifice any capability.

I work in construction. I am the target market for truck manufacturers. This is not what we want.

 

I see as many of these 'pickups' as Prius here in Mississippi, I think small imported pickup in general were taxed out of the US. They did not fail due to lack of demand. A Prius truck could be as fuel efficient as these.

 

"I don't think" being the operative words here . . .

Yes, the highlander hybrid and the Lexus RX400h - RX450h SUV's all have CVT ... and with about 300hp they'll pull as much as you want. Then there's the 600h lexus ... lets see ... how does 430hp grab you ... then there's the planned release of the 500hp LC600h ... ok i'm done.

um, I duno . . .
http://www.carseek.com/reviews/lexus/2008-rx-400h/

 

I was referring to your post that said

 

And how many construction and maintenance men, landscapers etc. do you see driving in old Toyota mini trucks? I see A LOT! There is definitely a market for smaller pickups whether you believe it or not. There is a market for those who need to haul and need a large truck but I would argue that a large number of people just buy the big trucks to boost their ego or to take advantage of the ridiculous tax breaks Brush gave them. Some of us would be more than happy with a small truck that could reach high 30mpg and had decent ground clearance. That is all I need to haul my fencing supplies and restoration materials. Anything more and I'll use the work truck.

 

Not only is that tiny thing much cheaper than a Prius truck would be but also has a larger bed. And nonetheless most people would not buy one anyway. Image is a big part of an automobile purchase and that thing looks pretty goofy and third-world countryish. It's not going to take sales from Jonny contractor who's trading in his F150.

But I said that "infrequently encourages purchase".

Didn't Chevy as recently as a few years ago have a car-based truck? And it didn't sell crap (just found on wiki the chevy SSR) These things are just dead on delivery in the US, people do not want small car-based trucks. GM even makes one or two car-based trucks sold in Australia (at least). So they exist but its marketing doesn't feel they are worth bringing an already-existing vehicle to the US.

Here's actually somebody's musings on this topic from April: Five Reasons Car-Based Pickups Will NEVER Sell in The USA | Tundra Headquarters

There are exceptions to all rules but ultimately those who buy trucks either use them for or want to display that they use them for truck activities like hauling drywall or towing a boat. This thing cannot poach many of these conventional truck buyers at all, so then it basically has to encourage non-truck buyers to buy a "truck".

 

I agree that a market definitely exists for a Prius T-type vehicle. I see lots of small truck contractors, subs and construction site vehicles including Toyota's current offering. I also think a residential market exists for those wanting an economical small truck around for light hauling to the dump and whereever. I for one would go for something like that, but can't swallow the MPG's on the current small truck offerings.

I think a light hybrid Prius kind of truck with Dana's hydroform single piece frame construction would make a super, rugged-duty little truck.

Happy Motoring,

Tom