Toyota is displaying a new hybrid pick-up truck concept at the 2008 North American International Auto Show beginning on Monday 14th January in Detroit.

The concept vehicle called A-BAT even has solar panels on the dash which capture energy from the sun to assist in the charging of the navigation unit, portable power pack and backlit information displays. It’s also got lots of lightweight materials inside including carbon fibre and aluminium.

It’s got a portable power pack which is said to offer both AC and DC for a wide variety of applications including “powering tools, electrical gear while camping, a laptop computer, small appliances or assisting a vehicle jump start.”

Big stuff in the cab can stick through the roof, and the pick up bed can be extended in a range of ways, all ideal for Americans going shopping or camping.

"Driving from beyond the suburbs to the city is a way of life for many people," said Kevin Hunter, president, Calty Design Research, Inc. "We've taken Toyota's truck heritage to a different level by envisioning a vehicle capable of manoeuvring the suburbs as well as dirt roads. This compact truck is as comfortable for long commutes as it is for road trips. It can accommodate outdoor toys and home improvement supplies. Plus, customers benefit from the hybrid powertrain's low emissions and fuel economy."

Don’t expect to see this vehicle in the UK in the near future, the concept seems to be designed purely for the American market. As well as the Prius providing the engine, it’s also supposed to have influenced the design. Oh, as well as a NATO all-terrain military truck. A strange experiment in cross-breeding then.