The newest trim line of the Ram family will also be its most expensive. The 2012 Ram Laramie Limited will have a starting price of $45,700 for a 1500 4×2 model, Ram officials tell Autoblog. That’s well over double the $21,820 asking price of a no-frills 1500.
Of course, spending that kind of money, you’d expect the interior trim to come with some fancy name like “black burled walnut,” an overpowering smell of leather every time you open the door and more shiny chrome exterior accents than a 1934 Chrysler Airflow. The Laramie Limited, introduced at the Chicago Auto Show in February, does that and more, playing its role as the ultimate Ram when it arrives at dealerships in the coming months in the full-size and heavy duty offerings. The starting price for a Ram Laramie Limited 2500 HD SWB 4×2 is $47,780 (prices do not include $995 in destination charges).
In recent years, Detroit’s pickup builders have continued to create more high-end pickups along with their work versions. Hey, how’s a One Percenter supposed to tow his yacht? Just a few weeks ago, Ford introduced a Platinum trim of its Super Duty trucks, which will push the price of an F-450 Platinum north of $70,000. There appears to be a growing market for these vehicles as well, as the J.D. Power Information Network notes that nearly 30 percent of heavy duty truck buyers spend more than $50,000 for their vehicles. All of that money is not simply going for the diesel powertrain upgrade. No, these trucks are loaded up with all of the amenities of a luxury sedan. After all, affluent buyers want to flaunt their success a little, but it’s not like you can carry a load of lumber in the trunk of a BMW 7 Series.
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