There are plenty of performance luxury sedans on road -- the BMW 6-Series and the Porsche Panamera among them -- that we'd bet aren't actually being put through the "performance" part of their paces on any given day, so why not a high-end luxury pickup truck for those who prefer that segment over a 4-door but may not actually be regularly hauling a few hundred pounds of lumber? That seems to be the thinking behind the Chrysler Ram Laramie Longhorn Edition, revealed today, which boasts 20-inch chrome or aluminum wheels, contrasting piping on its leather seats, saddlebag pockets on the rear of the front seats (with tooled-metal buckles and steer logos) and chrome badges on the grille and tailgate -- just a few details that don't exactly belie the overall opulence of the (once) working man's vehicle.
From The New York Times "Wheels" blog source article:
“'We took Laramie Longhorn’s design cues from traditionally handcrafted, time-tested wares, such as the antique pocket watch, a fine pair of hand-tooled leather cowboy boots, a collector’s grade shotgun or a horseman’s saddle,' said Ryan Nagode, design program lead for the new pickup."
The truck comes with five options for a 2-tone paint schemes; black crystal pearl and white gold are shown here. Pricing has yet to be announced, but the truck will hit dealerships during the first quarter of 2011.
So, what do you think? An upscale ride for the well-to-do workman, or all hat and no cattle?