Toyota Motor Corp. has shown off an early prototype of a second-generation version of its heavy-duty pick-up truck at the Detroit Motor Show on Sunday, and said it could come with a hybrid powertrain as an option.

The concept, dubbed FTX, is a larger, more powerful version of Toyota's full-size Tundra pick-up and is slated to go on sale in the spring of 2004 in the United States.

The beefed-up Tundra was shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Sunday with a V8 hybrid electric powertrain.

Under the hood

"Under the hood, the (concept) is powered by a large-displacement V8 hybrid gas-electric engine that pumps out loads of torque while delivering V6 fuel efficiency," said Jim Press, Toyota Motor Sales USA's executive vice president.

Press said Toyota executives are giving "serious consideration" to offering the latest Tundra with a hybrid powertrain that would use an electric motor in conjunction with a conventional combustion engine for greater fuel economy.

A pioneer of hybrid technology, Toyota already sells a fuel-efficient hybrid sedan, the Prius, in the US market, and hybrid versions of its Lexus RX330 and Highlander luxury sport-utility vehicles are in the works.

A host of hybrids

Both are slated for sale later this year and will join hybrids available from Honda Motor Co. and Ford Motor Co.

Press hopes the hybrid truck helps propel the Tundra to the top of the pickup heap in the United State. Toyota is "on a serious mission to build big truck market share," he said.

Separately, Toyota said it sold 1.85 million vehicles in the United States in 2003 to become "the best-selling car brand in America".

The Japanese automaker expects to sell 1.9 million units in 2004, thanks in part to what it predicts will be rising industry sales that should could go as high as 17 million units, Press said on Sunday.

It anticipates selling two million cars and trucks in 2005.