My way or the highway: want a different kind of truck to suit your needs? Make a statement with theses new, specialized vehicles

FOR SHEER, BRUTE STRENGTH, GMC's TopKick medium-duty truck is one of the more unusual and versatile vehicles on the market. Its gross vehicle weight ratings (the maximum a vehicle should weigh when it's fully loaded with all passengers and cargo aboard) range from 16,000 pounds to 61,000 pounds. GM calls the muscle-bound, ground-breaking new TopKick the most researched and the most consumer-focused line of commercial trucks the company has ever produced.

Available as a conventional cab or as a commercial cutaway chassis (only the cab is supplied; buyers must choose what kind of cube or configuration they want to add to complete the truck), the Top-Kick can also function as a cargo truck, a hauler or a bus, with available seating for up to six passengers in its crew cab or up to three in its regular cab. In addition, the Top-Kick can be fitted with cranes or containers.

Another GMC innovation is the Sierra Pro, a full-sized pickup truck with an option package on the 1500 and 2500 heavy-duty shortbox models that includes heated seats, a center console workstation with outlets, a complimentary Compaq laptop, and even a small cooler, and a cup-warmer/ cooler for lunch breaks. A full-length toolbox fits under the rear seat.

If you really want to make a statement with your company's vehicles, Mercedes-Benz's G500 boxy midsized SUV turns heads. Designed for rugged terrain, it's ideal for construction sites as well as weekend off-roading, and can haul 6,500 pounds. Yet, as you would expect from Mercedes-Benz, the G500 also comes loaded with lots of luxury features such as a leather and wood interior, cruise control, automatic transmission, GPS and power everything.

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