When we set out to do our Sport Truck of the Year testing, there were several categories that we reviewed: performance, handling, and styling. When it comes to the first two categories, there are devices that can gauge the level that a specific truck is performing or handling at. When it comes to styling, however, there isn't a magic little box that can tell you whether the manufacturers have pumped out a truck that looks good or not. That particular category relies on personal opinion.
The first day the trucks arrived at Sport Truck headquarters, the entire staff busted out of the front doors to take a firsthand look at what many of us had only seen photos of - the next generation of factory trucks. As we milled about the crop of vehicles, each staff member sized up the competition, envisioning what they would do with the different trucks.
Since we live in a digital age, we thought it would only be fitting that we brought to you a digital representation of what these new trucks could become. To bring these creations to life, we called up our buddies at Kutting Edge Graphix to redesign the trucks exactly how we had envisioned them: slammed on the ground and shaved, with custom paint and some new wheels.
It was no surprise that the Toyota X-Runner would look great sitting on the ground, since its stance straight from the factory is relatively low. Other trucks, however, such as the Dodge Dakota, took on a whole new personality once digitally slammed. The new Dakota styling is much more angular than previous years, which takes a little time to get used to, but the new stance and simple two-tone paint scheme accentuate the OEM-designed body lines and prove that there really is a sport truck hiding in there.
The Nissan Frontier is, in many ways, a mini-me version of its bigger brother, the fullsize Nissan Titan. Since the Frontier already holds a familiar face, we had Kutting Edge switch it up and do a retro-rendering on the Nissan, complete with Olds side vents, white walls, and baby moons.
Our final vehicle is the Viper-powered monster of a truck, the Dodge SRT-10. Many people would argue that this is one of those holy trucks that no one in their right mind would cut up and lay on the ground. However, no matter how much sentimental value a collectors' item can possess, there is always someone out there who isn't afraid to cut it up. The major differences in style between the SRT-10 and the standard Ram are the side cladding, hood, and rear wing. Out of those three components, the one that had to go was the wing - sorry, but we're not a fan. The two-tone paint scheme and custom tint take an already badass truck to a whole new level.