Toyota held a somewhat-intimate event last night in the Riverview Ballroom of Cobo Hall. There, members of the press had the chance to get up close and personal with the A-BAT Concept pickup truck.

The A-BAT Concept is smaller than Toyota’s current Tacoma pickup and is powered by a four-cylinder engine with Toyota’s infamous Hybrid Synergy Drive. Even though it’s smaller than all other mid-size trucks, it still boasts a four-foot bed with a midgate and fold-down tailgate bed extension. Inside, there is seating for four adults with a removable roof panel over the rear compartment for hauling taller cargo. Nineteen-inch wheels and bold styling give the A-BAT a unique appearance, yet its design still reminds us of the larger Honda Ridgeline.

Could a small, hybrid pickup really be what our market needs? Toyota seems to think so. Click through the jump for Toyota’s full press release and click the images below to open two high-resolution galleries.

TOYOTA RETURNS TO ITS COMPACT TRUCK ROOTS
WITH THE A-BAT CONCEPT VEHICLE

DETROIT - Jan. 13, 2008 - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., returns to its compact pickup truck roots with its latest concept vehicle A-BAT. The environmentally advanced A-BAT provides modern versatility, roominess and style in a compact pickup architecture. The A-BAT made its debut in Detroit at the 2008 North American International Auto Show today.

“Driving from beyond the suburbs to the city is a way of life for many people,