Holden Ute

Infobox Automobile
name = Holden Ute


aka = Chevrolet Lumina
Pontiac G8 Sport Truck.
manufacturer = Holden
parent_company = General Motors
production = 2000–present
predecessor = Holden Commodore Utility
body_style = 2-door coupe utility
related = Holden Commodore
Holden Crewman
Holden One tonner
HSV Maloo

The Holden Ute is a coupe utility built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors since 2000. Before then, Holden marketed their Commodore-based utility models as the Commodore Utility. Even before 2000, the Holden Ute name was widely used because the word "ute" is a colloquial term used commonly in Australia for a utility vehicle or pickup truck. Holden's performance division, an independent company called HSV assembles a high-performance version called the Maloo. Between 2003 and 2007, Holden built a stretched, crew cab version of the Ute with four doors and seating for five, called the Holden Crewman and between 2003 and 2005 an alloy tray version known as the Holden One tonner.

The Ute launched with a locally-built 3.8 litre "Ectotec" V6 engine of Buick design. A 5.7 litre "Generation III" V8 engine option was also available, but this was replaced by the 6.0 litre "Generation 4" in 2006, and updated to the "L98" specification later on that year. In 2004, Holden replaced the venerable V6 with a 3.6 litre "Alloytec" unit.

The Australian-assembled Ute will be sold in the United States as the Pontiac G8 ST starting in 2008 alongside the four-door Commodore-based G8 sedan. [cite web | last = Levine | first = Mike | title = The Pontiac G8 ST is Coming to the New York Auto Show | publisher = PickupTruck.com | date = 2008-01-25 | url = http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/autoshows/nyas2008/gm/pontiac/g8stcoming.html | accessdate = 2008-01-30] It is sold in South Africa as the Chevrolet Lumina SS.

First generation (2000–2007)

VU

Holden introduced the Ute range with the VU, replacing the VS Commodore Utility. The VU's arrival was a full 36 months after the VT Commodore sedan, meaning it arrived in time for the launch of Holden's VX Commodore series. The VU utilises the same wheelbase as the VT Commodore station wagon and WH Statesman, meaning a wheelbase increase of Auto mm|116|1. The Ute employs the same interior as the Commodore, while also picking up the VX's upgraded equipment lists and re-styled exterior design.

*Base : Built up from the Commodore Executive's specification. Available with 3.8 litre Convert|152|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Ecotec V6 - 4sp auto, 5sp manual or 5.7 litre Convert|225|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Generation 3 V8 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto

*S : Based on Commodore 'S' specification. Available with 3.8 litre Convert|152|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Ecotec V6 - 4sp auto, 5sp manual

*SS : Based on Commodore SS specification, minus side-impact airbags. Available with a 5.7 litre Convert|225|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Generation 3 V8 - 6sp manual or 4sp autoThe range received a minor refresh with the VX Series 2 models 12 months later, with the major upgrade being an additional Convert|5|kW|hp|0|abbr=on to Holden's Generation 3 V8's. The VU's were superseded by the VY range in September 2002.

VY

The Ute range received its first major facelift in the form of the 2002 VY range. VY Ute's received the same upgrades as the sedan/wagon range, which involved a new, sharper-designed nose, and more European-styled interior. The same three specification models were carried over for the VY, and picked up the same upgraded equipment lists as the VY sedans.The VY range marked major change for Holden's Ute range, with the 2003 addition of two new models: the return of the One tonner ute after a 18-year hiatus; and the introduction of Holden's first-ever 4-door Ute, arriving in the form of the Crewman. The Crewman brought a longer wheelbase - Auto mm|3206|1 compared to the Auto mm|2939|1 of the Ute; and a shorter tray - Auto mm|1463|1 compared to the Auto mm|2193|1 of the Ute [ [http://www.holden.com.au/pdf/chooseavehicle/fullfeatures/LCVVZ_SpecFeat.pdf Holden Ute range features] Retrieved 20 October 2007] In December 2003, Holden released an all-wheel drive variant of the Crewman known as the Crewman Cross 8. Powered by a 225 kilowatt V8 engine, the Cross 8 featured a modified appearance, more suited to an off-road vehicle.

Both the Crewman and One Tonner models added instant sales to the Holden range, sparking rapid expansion of the Holden Ute range, its first major growth spurt since its 1990 re-introduction. Once again the same three specifications were carried over for the VY Ute's, with the cab-chassis range available in base Ute, S & SS forms. The same did not apply for the One-Tonner range though - it was available in just two model forms, base and S.

*Base: Based on Commodore Executive specification. Available with 3.8 litre Convert|152|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Ecotec V6

*S : Based on Commodore S specification. Available with 3.8 litre Convert|152|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Ecotec V6 - 4sp auto, 5sp manual

*SS: Based on Commodore SS specification. 5.7 litre Convert|235|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Generation 3 V8 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto

Crewman models were on the other hand available with the same three specifications as the cab-chassis range, and were launched conjointly with the rest of Holden's VY Series 2 range, the major update this time being the addition of Convert|10|kW|hp|0|abbr=on to the Gen.3 V8. By December 2003 the Crewman range had expanded to include Holden's very first AWD ute in the form of the Cross 8. The AWD ute received bolstered wheelarches, raised ride height as well as additional equipment, with the sole drivetrain being the recently upgraded Gen.3 V8 connected to a 4-speed automatic. The VY's were superseded by the arrival of the VZ range in August 2004.

VZ

The final series of Holden's VT-generation was the VZ range, launched in August 2004. Holden's main upgrade for the VZ's was the introduction of an all-new Alloytec V6, replacing Holden's previous Ecotec V6's which had been in use since the 1995 launch of the VS Commodore. Whilst the sedan VZ range received both versions of the Alloytec V6, the ute range received just the lower-capacity Alloytec 175 - it was the standard engine across the entire ute range with a six-speed manual - an upgraded 4-speed automatic was available as an option. Once again the cab-chassis & Crewman ranges shared the same specification models, as shown below:

*Base: Based on Commodore Executive specification. Available with 3.6 litre Convert|175|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Alloytec V6 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto

*S: Based on Commodore SV6 specification. Available with 3.6 litre Convert|175|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Alloytec V6 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto

*SS: Based on Commodore SS specification (minus side-impact airbags on cab-chassis. Available with a 5.7 litre Convert|235|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Generation 3 V8, or the new 260kW 6.0 litre Generation 4 V8 'L98' - 6sp manual or 4sp autoCrewman's were once again available in Cross 8 form, whilst the VZ range added the Cross 6 Crewman, essentially a V6 version of the Cross 8.

One-Tonner's were available with the following specifications:

*Base :Based on Commodore Executive specification. Available with 3.6 litre Convert|175|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Alloytec V6 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto or 5.7 litre Convert|235|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Generation 3 V8 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto

*S: Based on Commodore SV6 specification minus fog-lights. Available with 3.6 litre Convert|175|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Alloytec V6 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto or 5.7 litre Convert|235|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Generation 3 V8 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto

*Cross 6: AWD One-Tonner. Available with 3.6 litre Convert|175|kW|hp|0|abbr=on Alloytec V6 - 4sp automatic only

The Ute range continued without any updates for the next 18 months, until the January 2006 addition of Holden's new L76 V8's. Holden's new V8 range was introduced after its previous Generation 3 V8 failed to meet new Euro III emission standards introduced in Australia on January 1 2006. The new Generation 4 V8's contained an additional Convert|10|kW|hp|0|abbr=on compared to their predecessors (the ute's had previously received an addition Convert|15|kW|hp|0|abbr=on of power, inline with the VZ Sean range), but were missing two key features compared to their American counterparts: both Displacement on Demand and variable valve timing had been removed. The Alloytec 175 also lost Convert|3|kW|hp|0|abbr=on of power due tweaks made to meet Euro III standards.'The VZ Ute's remained on sale well after the introduction of Holden's next-generation VE sedans, as did the VZ Wagons. By December of the same year, all AWD variants of the ute were gone from showrooms after Holden ceased production, whilst the curtain was brought down on the One-Tonner range once again after poor sales results. Holden's VZ ute's were superseded by the 8th-generation VE range in September 2007.

Second generation (2007–)

VE

2007 saw the launch of Holden's eagerly anticipated VE Ute range, unveiled to the media in August, with showroom sales began later in the month. The new generation designated VE, based on the VE Commodore tackles an upward consumer tendency towards using utes as lifestyle vehicles. This further shifts the ute away from the traditional workhorse market. [cite web | last = Hagon | first = Toby | date = 2007-08-22 | url = http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=42714 | title = Revealed: Holden Commodore VE Ute | publisher = Fairfax Media | accessdate = 2007-09-10] The Pontiac G8 ST, the U.S.-market Ute to be released for the 2009 model year, will be exhibited at the New York International Auto Show in March 2008.

*Omega: The base model, having similar standard features to the Omega sedan but can carry more than the SS-V, SS and SV6. It has the standard 3.6-litre V6 Convert|180|kW|hp|0|abbr=on and Auto Nm|330|0.

*SV6: A sportier version of the V6 ute, the SV6 replaced the S-pack from previous models. This Ute has the 3.6-litre High-Output V6 with Convert|195|kW|hp|0|abbr=on and Auto Nm|340|0.

*SS: The SS ute is the V8 version of the ute, it has the same 6-litre V8 as the sedan with Convert|270|kW|hp|0|abbr=on and Auto Nm|530|0.

*SS-V: A higher spec edition of the SS and based on the SS-V Sedan, it has a 6-litre V8 with Convert|270|kW|hp|0|abbr=on and Auto Nm|530|0.

References

External links

* [http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/vehicleentry?vehicleid=15 Holden - New Cars - Large: Ute]
* [http://autoweb.com.au/cms/newsarticle.html?&start=70&showall=&id=HOL&doc=gmh0104242 An Aussie Icon Turns 50 - The Holden Ute: 1951 - 2001]
* [http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=42746&vf=26&IsPgd=0 History of the Holden Ute]