Last week, Sam reviewed the standard version of the 2013 Ram 1500. Now, Ruth Manuel-Logan has a preview of its dashing darker sibling….

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Chrysler has unleashed a sinister black beast that’s sure to entice heavy haulers who like ’em big and brawny: the 2013 Ram 1500 Black Express.

The latest and darkest Ram pickup takes black to a whole new level –all black exterior, black 20-inch aluminum wheels, black front and rear bumpers, black grille, black rams-head badges on the front and rear tailgate, black interior, blacked-out lower front valence with fog lights, black-finished LED tail lamps…. Well, let’s just say that black is where it’s at on the aggressive and oh-so-macho transport.

The Ram 1500 Black Express has a 5.7 liter Hemi V8 that packs a hefty 395 horsepower engine and 410 ft-lbs of torque, mounted on a big bulging frame that can tow a totally-in-your-face 9,250 pounds.

The dark stallion is available in two- and four-wheel-drive models and will be offered as regular, quad, or crew cab body styles.

Chrysler has produced many special editions over the years, heralding its latest and greatest. Some of those special editions currently in showrooms include the Dart II Mopar ’13, Charger II Daytona, Challenger R/T Redline and Blacktop series of vehicles.

But all those are Dodge models. We’re happy to see that Chrysler has now given its Ram line of pickups a hefty dose of drama. (The good kind, of course.)

Pricing for the Ram 1500 Black Express starts at $26,995.