Pickup trucks sure have changed over the past few decades. Once reserved for commercial applications or hauling hay and feed around the farm with barely a heater and windshield wipers, these versatile vehicles have been transformed into what is often the family four-door, the four-wheel-drive king cab commuter, or the cause of envy at local drag strips. And for a few years now there have been some new players strutting onto the field with a box attached to a luxury vehicle. Lincoln has taken two stabs at this segment so far, the first being the forgettable and misguided Blackwood and more recently the Mark LT, also known as a thinly-disguised Ford F-150. Over at General Motors, luxury division Cadillac has been a bit more thorough with its dressing up of the Chevrolet Avalanche, with the result being the 2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT. With its rear box, the all-wheel-drive EXT is technically a pickup truck, one that features an innovative fold-down midgate that effectively creates a full-size bed. But, aside from that design element, the EXT is much like the rest of the 2007 Cadillac Escalade lineup, with the same fresh face accented by vertically-stacked bright headlight housings and an expansive chrome grille inspired by the Cadillac Sixteen concept car. There are clean new body lines with tighter gaps, front fender vents, and integrated running boards. The new Escalades get an interior distinct from the lesser Chevy and GMC versions, with an attractive dash layout and generous use of leather. Added luxury comes in the form of an optional heated steering wheel, a touch-screen navigation system, a rear DVD entertainment system, a surround sound system by Bose, and 18- or 22-inch chrome alloy wheels. All of that should be right at home next to the dented F-250 at the construction site, don’t ya think? Right. Better stick to the country club with this pick-‘em-up.
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