A Prius pick-up?

Threeweight · **Joined:** Mon May 14, 2007 5:57 pm **Posts:** 679

Not directly CRD related, but likely of interest for those of us who purchased our CRD's for environmental reasons. How many folks would consider a small hybrid "trucklet" with AWD but no low range, and limited towing, if it got 35-40 mpg?

http://www.thecarconnection.com/blog/?p=784

Key quote:

Meanwhile, the A-BAT is an example of why other automakers fear Toyota.

The Toyota concept hybrid truck, which offers improved fuel economy and lower emissions, comes with a distinctive un-truck-like profile that has already reminded a lot of observers of Chevrolet’s old El Caminos from the 1970s.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:53 pm

Threeweight wrote:

Not directly CRD related, but likely of interest for those of us who purchased our CRD's for environmental reasons. How many folks would consider a small hybrid "trucklet" with AWD but no low range, and limited towing, if it got 35-40 mpg?

http://www.thecarconnection.com/blog/?p=784

Key quote:

Meanwhile, the A-BAT is an example of why other automakers fear Toyota.

The Toyota concept hybrid truck, which offers improved fuel economy and lower emissions, comes with a distinctive un-truck-like profile that has already reminded a lot of observers of Chevrolet’s old El Caminos from the 1970s.

NO WANT!

Inc · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:59 pm

Why buy a truck if it has a crappy payload, low towing capability, AWD, and no low range? MPG definitely isn't enough for me. I'd only buy a truck if 1. my wife wanted one (never happen) 2. I needed it (work) or 3. Jeep made one. Just my 2 cents.

hatchetman · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:05 pm

My old lady would buy one in a heartbeat :evil:

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:17 pm

incubusmike wrote:

Why buy a truck if it has a crappy payload, low towing capability, AWD, and no low range? MPG definitely isn't enough for me. I'd only buy a truck if 1. my wife wanted one (never happen) 2. I needed it (work) or 3. Jeep made one. Just my 2 cents.

Agreed. This vehicle would be better off as a station wagon.

It would be even better off as a turbodiesel hybrid.

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:54 pm

Threeweight wrote:

Not directly CRD related, but likely of interest for those of us who purchased our CRD's for environmental reasons. How many folks would consider a small hybrid "trucklet" with AWD but no low range, and limited towing, if it got 35-40 mpg?

http://www.thecarconnection.com/blog/?p=784

Key quote:

Meanwhile, the A-BAT is an example of why other automakers fear Toyota.

The Toyota concept hybrid truck, which offers improved fuel economy and lower emissions, comes with a distinctive un-truck-like profile that has already reminded a lot of observers of Chevrolet’s old El Caminos from the 1970s.

DO NOT WANT.

onthehunt · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:02 pm

An El Camino is the furthest thing from my mind when I see that. No thanks....

Threeweight · **Joined:** Mon May 14, 2007 5:57 pm **Posts:** 679

The lack of towing capacity is a deal killer for me right now, but for the other things I use my CRD for (high clearance vehicle to fishing and hunting), I might be tempted. Assuming current fuel prices, 40 mpg for the "prick-up", that'd be around $1300 a year at 3.50 a gallon regular unleaded and 15000 miles a year, vs. $2300 for a CRD at 28 mpg (assuming best case for both vehicles) and diesel at 4.29.

Anyway, interesting (if ugly) vehicle. The fear-factor the article cites has more to do with Toyota breaking the dominant paradigm of body-on-frame sub 20 mpg pick-ups (the last profitable arena for the Big 3) with this thing, or vehicles like it, than it does with styling. For those of us who drive CRD's for off-road play or style, we don't mind the extra $$ for fuel. For small business owners, contractors, etc... who can get away with smaller payload and towing, the fuel savings would be hard to ignore with prices where they are.

Just read in the paper today that truck sales across the board (including pick-ups) decreased for the first time in years during the last quarter. With the economy where it is, even if Dodge/Ford/GM bring V6 diesel pickups to market by 2010, there isn't going to be much appetite for a 25 mpg rig that burns $4.29 diesel.

danoid · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:08 pm

If all I wanted was mpg I'd buy another TDI, except for the crappy VW stereo it was an awesome ride. The KJ CRD has the highest combination of towing capacity and mpg of any vehicle (no longer) available in the US.

cerich · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:22 pm

Threeweight wrote:

Not directly CRD related, but likely of interest for those of us who purchased our CRD's for environmental reasons. How many folks would consider a small hybrid "trucklet" with AWD but no low range, and limited towing, if it got 35-40 mpg?

http://www.thecarconnection.com/blog/?p=784

Key quote:

Meanwhile, the A-BAT is an example of why other automakers fear Toyota.

The Toyota concept hybrid truck, which offers improved fuel economy and lower emissions, comes with a distinctive un-truck-like profile that has already reminded a lot of observers of Chevrolet’s old El Caminos from the 1970s.

I don't understand...what environmental reason could there be?

Teasing aside while bio diesel from WVO is cool and a good use, there isn't enough waste oil to make any real difference. Planting just for bio diesel as opposed to dino isn't cost or land effective and will has a serious negative effect on food costs.

What am I missing?

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:28 pm

cerich wrote:

I don't understand...what environmental reason could there be?

Teasing aside while bio diesel from WVO is cool and a good use, there isn't enough waste oil to make any real difference. Planting just for bio diesel as opposed to dino isn't cost or land effective and will has a serious negative effect on food costs.

What am I missing?

Am I missing something.......how did we switch from weird truck thing to practically of widespread BioD usage?

Threeweight · **Joined:** Mon May 14, 2007 5:57 pm **Posts:** 679

cerich wrote:

What am I missing?

Greater fuel economy = lower C02 emissions, regardless of what fuel you burn. Biodiesel isn't a silver bullet, but in the real world nothing ever is. Bio and the development of alternative fuels contributes (in a small way) to the shift away from dino oil is all there is and all there will ever be. And it means that at least my money isn't going to anti-American oil barrons and theocracies.

And a good number of folks have used their CRD's for home-brew biodiesel from waste oil, or for straight WVO projects.

Anyway, back on topic, it will be interesting to see whether the automakers actually roll out some of this technology. The hybrid tech was actually developed in the 1990's with public tax $$ here in the US, under something called "the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles." Toyota thought it was a big threat to their long-term bottom line, so they started developing their own. The US Big 3, the beneficiaries of that tax money, put their results up on a shelf (including an 80 mpg diesel electric hybrid prototype) and ignored them. Had they taken the long view, you might be able to buy your 40 mpg Jeep today.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/11/23 ... cles-pngv/

jinstall · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:58 pm

GM Just introduced a 600hp HyBRED Mine dump truck

A Prius pick-up?

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