| Holden Ute | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Holden |
| Also called | Chevrolet Lumina Pontiac G8 Sport Truck |
| Production | 2000–2017 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door coupe utility
4-door crew cab 2-door cab chassis |
| Related | Holden Commodore Holden Crewman Holden One Tonner HSV Maloo |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Holden Commodore utility |
| Successor | Holden Colorado |
The Holden Ute was a coupe utility built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors, since 2000. Before then, Holden had marketed their Commodore-based utility models under the Holden Utility (VG) and Holden Commodore utility (VP, VR, VS) names,[1][2] although the term “Holden Ute” was also used in their official marketing literature.[3][4] The Holden Ute name is often used for earlier Holden Utility models (which were produced from 1951 to 1984) as the word "ute" is a colloquial term used commonly in Australia for a utility vehicle. Holden's performance division, an independent company called HSV assembled 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 a cab-chassis version known as the Holden One Tonner.
The VX Commodore-based Ute launched with a locally built 3.8-litre Ecotec 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 was to be sold in the United States as the Pontiac G8 ST starting in 2009 alongside the four-door Commodore-based G8 sedan.[5] However, due to GM's company-wide model review, a result of the 2007–2008 financial crisis, such plans were shelved on 6 January 2009. Exports of the G8 sedan remain unaffected.[6] Sales of the Ute in South Africa as the Chevrolet Lumina SS commenced during 2006/2007 and in Middle East in 2009/2010, making it the first full-size Chevrolet coupé utility ever since the 1987 discontinuation of the El Camino (even though this Lumina was never sold in the USA).
- ^ Holden Commodore VN Technical specifications Retrieved from www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au on 17 December 2008
- ^ Holden VG Utility Retrieved from www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au on 17 December 2008
- ^ ”HOLDEN V6/V8 UTILITY” sales brochure AD10433, August 1990
- ^ The Holden Ute Series III sales brochure AD10682 of May 1998
- ^ Levine, Mike (25 January 2008). "The Pontiac G8 ST is Coming to the New York Auto Show". PickupTruck.com. Archived from the original on 29 January 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2008.
- ^ Hassal, David (7 January 2009). "Pontiac axes Aussie ute". GoAuto. John Mellor. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2009.