When you mention the name Dartz->ke3829 within the automotive circle, you're not going to be greeted with the kind of response that you'd normally get for any other kind of automaker in the world.

See, Dartz has long been a different brand. They don't build sedans. They don't build sports cars. Heck, they don't even build supercars. Where their specialty lies is building trucks. And not just any trucks, mind you. These guys from Russia build trucks that adhere by its tagline of “Bullet Proof Trend Setters.”

To say that Dartz is anything but conventional is to say that Paris Hilton has acting skills. There's nothing ordinary about this company and their latest offering, a special China-only luxury track called the Black Snake, is no different.

Built to celebrate the incoming Year of the Snake, the Dartz Black Snake is the kind massive yet opulent vehicle that will immediately catch your eye. And to be honest, if your list of clients include Czar Nicholas II, Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and Admiral General Aladeen, then you immediately gain credibility as an automaker unlike any other.

Find out more about the Dartz Black Snake after the jump

2013 Dartz Black Snake

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Dartz Black Snake
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 557
  • Torque: 560
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Where do you begin, really? Everything about the Dartz Black Snake's looks is just the picture of technology mixed with the kind of intimidating design that would make Hummers purr like small kittens.

The body of the Black Snake is made from space aluminum - yes, space aluminum - that was developed using what the Russian's call “kapsula” technology. We're not entirely sure what that is but it's been said that the technology was first used for the armored car of one Joseph Stalin. You all remember him, right?

On top of that, what makes the Black Snake so unique isn't just its looks, but also the kind of materials Dartz used on the truck. Ever seen a car with a radiator grille with gold flourishes? How about a hood that's been covered with leaf gold formed like snakeskin? Oh, and here's the best part: if those trinkets aren't "luxurious enough" for you, you can always opt for the diamond hood ornament from Smolensk Kristall.

Interior

The Black Snake’s interior is, in so many words, PETA's worst nightmare. Surely, the animal-rights group wouldn't think too kindly about a car that's been dressed with a lineup of animal skin that would make even Tito Ortiz faint. The choice of interior lining for the Black Snake includes, a crocodile belly, an ostrich, snake skin, and, of course, the now-infamous whale foreskin leather. Even the dashboard and the floor mats aren't bereft of any animal parts, as Dartz opting to lay snake skin on the dash, the armrests, and the door paneling, and white shark skin on the floor mats.

We feel for the animals that were, you know, "exploited" in the making of this vehicle. But this only underscores the fact that Dartz doesn't play around when it comes to their creations, let alone the ones that carry a "special edition" designation. When they say their vehicle is one, you can damn well take that to the bank.

Performance

Lost in the opulence of the Black Snake's exterior and interior is the fact that this luxury truck is built on the chassis of a Mercedes GL 63 AMG, which means that it also comes packed with the German SUV's AMG-sourced 5.5-liter V-8 bi-turbo engine that produces 557 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque. All that is made much more impressive when you begin to consider that despite its bulk and girth, this bona fide bad-boy still hit 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds, half-a-second slower than a 2012 Audi R8!

Pricing

After everything that we've told you, you've probably come to the understanding that the Dartz Black Snake will set you back as far as most supercars in the world will. If that's what's in your head, then congratulate yourself because you're right. No specific price has been revealed, but you can expect the Black Snake to retail for at least $1 million. For that amount, you can be one of the few people in the world to own this shining example of Russian ingenuity, a luxury truck so opulent, you'd think it emits golden fumes out of its exhausts. Plus you get to touch the skin of just about every animal that boarded Noah’s Ark. Granted, they’re dead, but still…

Competition

Here's the interesting thing about Dartz. If you're looking for a competitor that can match wits with these guys, then God bless you. You can say that the Marauder is one, but in all actuality, that's probably the one vehicle that the Dartz Black Snake would slither away from.

So with the absence of a true competitor, we're left with the recourse of picking out among its brethren, which in this case, includes the equally mind-bending Prombron Monaco Red Diamond, another zany creation from the folks of Dartz.

Just like the Black Snake, the Prombron Monaco Red Diamond makes use of some pretty glittery items, including gold plated, bulletproof windows, white gold gauges encrusted with precious gem stones, Kevlar coating, and a choice of interior trim that once again includes the aforementioned whale organ of copulation.

If the Prombron Monaco Red Diamond doesn't suit you, you can always opt for the diamond-studded Prombron Black Dragon. That is if you have $2.7 million to spare.

Conclusion

Let's face it: if we had at least $1 million to spend on any one vehicle, we'll be honest and tell you that our minds would consider splurging all of it on the Black Snake. It's different, it's powerful, and most of all, it's completely bad-ass. But as far as our hearts go, we'd probably opt to get something else, possibly a Pagani Huayra or even a McLaren P1 whenever that one comes out. It's just a little hard to imagine driving a vehicle with a steering wheel wrapped in something else's foreskin.