Holden Ute

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Holden Ute
Manufacturer	Holden
Parent company	General Motors
Also called	Chevrolet Lumina Pontiac G8 Sport Truck.
Production	2000–present
Predecessor	Holden Commodore Utility
Body style(s)	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.^[1]

Contents 1 First generation (2000–2007) 1.1 VU 1.2 VY 1.3 VZ 2 Second generation (2007–) 2.1 VE 3 References 4 External links

[edit] First generation (2000–2007)

[edit] VU

Main article: Holden VX Commodore

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 116 mm (4.6 in). 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 152 kW (204 hp) Ecotec V6 - 4sp auto, 5sp manual or 5.7 litre 225 kW (302 hp) Generation 3 V8 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto

• S : Based on Commodore 'S' specification. Available with 3.8 litre 152 kW (204 hp) Ecotec V6 - 4sp auto, 5sp manual

• SS : Based on Commodore SS specification, minus side-impact airbags. Available with a 5.7 litre 225 kW (302 hp) Generation 3 V8 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto

The range received a minor refresh with the VX Series 2 models 12 months later, with the major upgrade being an additional 5 kW (7 hp) to Holden's Generation 3 V8's. The VU's were superseded by the VY range in September of 2002.

[edit] VY

Main article: Holden VY Commodore

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 - 3206 mm (126.2 in) compared to the 2939 mm (115.7 in) of the Ute; and a shorter tray - 1463 mm (57.6 in) compared to the 2193 mm (86.3 in) of the Ute^[2] 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 152 kW (204 hp) Ecotec V6

• S : Based on Commodore S specification. Available with 3.8 litre 152 kW (204 hp) Ecotec V6 - 4sp auto, 5sp manual

• SS: Based on Commodore SS specification. 5.7 litre 235 kW (315 hp) 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 10 kW (13 hp) 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.

[edit] VZ

Main article: Holden VZ Commodore

The final series of Holden's VT-generation was the VZ range, launched in August of 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 175 kW (235 hp) Alloytec V6 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto

• S: Based on Commodore SV6 specification. Available with 3.6 litre 175 kW (235 hp) 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 235 kW (315 hp) Generation 3 V8, or the new 260kW 6.0 litre Generation 4 V8 'L98' - 6sp manual or 4sp auto

Crewman'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 175 kW (235 hp) Alloytec V6 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto or 5.7 litre 235 kW (315 hp) Generation 3 V8 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto

• S: Based on Commodore SV6 specification minus fog-lights. Available with 3.6 litre 175 kW (235 hp) Alloytec V6 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto or 5.7 litre 235 kW (315 hp) Generation 3 V8 - 6sp manual or 4sp auto

• Cross 6: AWD One-Tonner. Available with 3.6 litre 175 kW (235 hp) 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 1st 2006. The new Generation 4 V8's contained an additional 10 kW (13 hp) compared to their predecessors (the ute's had previously received an addition 15 kW (20 hp) 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 3 kW (4 hp) 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 of 2007.

[edit] Second generation (2007–)

[edit] VE

Main article: Holden VE Commodore

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.^[3] 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 180 kW (241 hp) and 330 N·m (243 ft·lbf).

• 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 195 kW (261 hp) and 340 N·m (251 ft·lbf).

• SS: The SS ute is the V8 version of the ute, it has the same 6-litre V8 as the sedan with 270 kW (362 hp) and 530 N·m (391 ft·lbf).

• SS-V: A higher spec edition of the SS and based on the SS-V Sedan, it has a 6-litre V8 with 270 kW (362 hp) and 530 N·m (391 ft·lbf).

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Holden - New Cars - Large: Ute
• An Aussie Icon Turns 50 - The Holden Ute: 1951 - 2001
• History of the Holden Ute

v • d • e Holden, a subsidiary of General Motors, automobile timeline, 1980s–present
Type	1980s										1990s										2000s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Subcompact						Barina			Barina						Barina							Barina				Barina
	Gemini					Gemini
Compact																										Viva				Viva
					Astra			Astra		Nova					Nova		Astra		Astra						Astra					Astra
Mid-size			Camira							Apollo				Apollo				Vectra						Vectra				Epica
	Commodore
Full-size									Commodore									Commodore									Commodore
											Statesman									Statesman							Statesman
Sports							Piazza					Calibra														Tigra
																						Monaro
Utility		Rodeo							Rodeo															Rodeo					Colorado
	Kingswood										Commodore										Ute								Ute
	1 Tonne																							One tonner
																								Crewman
Van						Scurry											Combo						Combo
			Shuttle
Compact MPV																						Zafira
Mini SUV						Drover																	Cruze
Mid-size SUV																Frontera				Frontera				Adventra			Captiva
		Jackaroo			Jackaroo							Jackaroo
Full-size SUV																			Suburban
List of Holden vehicles