Holden Ute coming!?!?

[BonzoHansen]

Watching Auctions, and Magnante just said GM announced today the Holden Ute (El Camino) is green lighted for the US. Huh. I don't care what teh timmay says, that will bomb. LOL

[deadtrend1]

What is a Ute Mr. Gambini
http://www.joblo.com/newsimages1/joevinny.jpg

[BonzoHansen]

What is a Ute Mr. Gambini
http://www.joblo.com/newsimages1/joevinny.jpg

Did you say ute?

I dunno, but it's got a posi-traction rear.

[BigAls87Z28]

Its been announced before. It will come to the US as the G8 ST or Sport Truck. I said that in the G8 thread.

[Knipps]

:w00t: more holden stuff making it's way over

btw: ute = el camino style
been very popular/functional in Australia for years

[87GTA]

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj108/knight2000_2008/GTOute4.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj108/knight2000_2008/GTOute.jpg

[maroman88]

thats the old ute, the gto style, new one will be a G8

[SamhainZ28]

that ish is tight

[Ian]

yuck, no thanks!

[Dark_Knight7096]

that ish is tight

That's why I've been tryin to find a conversion company to import and convert one for me for a few years now. I have really given up cause all the companies I have contacted have either ignored me or sent me back nasty emails yelling at me for wasting their time as they "specialize in high end imported cars not everyday utility work vehicles". I guess they were mad I wasn't importing a beamer or a benz.

[qwikz28]

i think its a cool idea, but its ugly and its gonna flop. i don't really see a market for such a vehicle.

what im trying to say is that truck people will buy a truck and car people will buy a car. its too light duty for most and not car enough for most.

[WildBillyT]

i think its a cool idea, but its ugly and its gonna flop. i don't really see a market for such a vehicle.


I agree, this is a bad idea. It is going to tank, and GM will waste a lot of money they don't have.

[Untamed]

Looks like the punchline of a joke that begins with "What do you get when you cross a sawzall, some bondo and a muscle car?"

[BigAls87Z28]

It will cost GM nothing.
They already make the G8 nose
They already make the Ute
They are already exporting the G8 to the US
A few thousand of these things, V8 only, and if dealers treat it right....
As Bob Lutz said "Its like a Camaro that can hold 2 dirt bikes"

And I CLEARLY remember back in 2002 or 2001 when Hot Rod had a massive 5-6 page spread about the Holden Ute, a RWD, 6spd, LS1 powerd pick up for the masses, they were flooded with mail begging to bring this here.
But then again, everyone loved the Monaro on Hot Rod too, even Hot Rod. When they put those 3 little letters on there, everyones tune changed though.

[WildBillyT]

It will cost GM nothing.
They already make the G8 nose
They already make the Ute
They are already exporting the G8 to the US
A few thousand of these things, V8 only, and if dealers treat it right....
As Bob Lutz said "Its like a Camaro that can hold 2 dirt bikes"

And I CLEARLY remember back in 2002 or 2001 when Hot Rod had a massive 5-6 page spread about the Holden Ute, a RWD, 6spd, LS1 powerd pick up for the masses, they were flooded with mail begging to bring this here.
But then again, everyone loved the Monaro on Hot Rod too, even Hot Rod. When they put those 3 little letters on there, everyones tune changed though.

Why wouldn't it cost GM money? They may already make the parts but they need to figure out how to put them together in a US approved package (which if I remember correctly was the problem with the GTO). And most importantly, if they spend time and resources to bring this here and nobody buys it, then they lose money.

I distinctly remember an issue of Car Craft from 2001 (adressing the Monaro) where they said "bring it to the US and call it a GTO" and everybody on the forums was getting their nuts off about how cool it was, but nobody bought it. I can see the same thing happening with the Ute. Everybody thinks its cool and that they would totally drive one but when it comes time to order one the buyers are few and far between. If people wanted a truck like this then why didn't the SSR sell better?

[Fast92RS]

When I was in Mexico last year they had cars similar to this there. They were a Chevy version and on the back emblem all it said was CHEVY.

[BigAls87Z28]

Why wouldn't it cost GM money? They may already make the parts but they need to figure out how to put them together in a US approved package (which if I remember correctly was the problem with the GTO). And most importantly, if they spend time and resources to bring this here and nobody buys it, then they lose money.

The Ute, along with all the VE cars were built in mind for export to everywhere, including the US and Europe.
The GTO/Monaro was not. They had to put the gas tank in the trunk and bigger bumpers.
Acctually, if there was ANY of teh old VZ Holden cars that couldhave made it to the US with the least amount of modifications, it was the Ute. The Ute already had the gas tank relocated for US rear crash standards, and all it needed was the new 5mph bumpers. Only problem that held it back was the 25% tariff on trucks imported into the US.

I distinctly remember an issue of Car Craft from 2001 (adressing the Monaro) where they said "bring it to the US and call it a GTO" and everybody on the forums was getting their nuts off about how cool it was, but nobody bought it. I can see the same thing happening with the Ute. Everybody thinks its cool and that they would totally drive one but when it comes time to order one the buyers are few and far between. If people wanted a truck like this then why didn't the SSR sell better?

The SSR was priced over 40k. It was also a novelty, and designed to sell at very low numbers. It was built in a non-GM plant, by ASC the same people who made the convertable third gens.
The SSR was useless as a truck, and lacked the performance. On top of that, dealers were marking it up beyond Corvette prices. It sold a few thousand units a year, probably what the Ute would.

The Ute offers a better package. It has a usefull bed, not one that is coverd in fabric. It has a lower stance, better handling, and is much lighter then the SSR.

The G8 ST will sell the few thousand units theybring to teh US. It will be more usefull then a standard coupe, and still give the performance to those looking for it.

[WildBillyT]

The Ute, along with all the VE cars were built in mind for export to everywhere, including the US and Europe.
The GTO/Monaro was not. They had to put the gas tank in the trunk and bigger bumpers.
Acctually, if there was ANY of teh old VZ Holden cars that couldhave made it to the US with the least amount of modifications, it was the Ute. The Ute already had the gas tank relocated for US rear crash standards, and all it needed was the new 5mph bumpers. Only problem that held it back was the 25% tariff on trucks imported into the US.



The SSR was priced over 40k. It was also a novelty, and designed to sell at very low numbers. It was built in a non-GM plant, by ASC the same people who made the convertable third gens.
The SSR was useless as a truck, and lacked the performance. On top of that, dealers were marking it up beyond Corvette prices. It sold a few thousand units a year, probably what the Ute would.

The Ute offers a better package. It has a usefull bed, not one that is coverd in fabric. It has a lower stance, better handling, and is much lighter then the SSR.

The G8 ST will sell the few thousand units theybring to teh US. It will be more usefull then a standard coupe, and still give the performance to those looking for it.


Yeah, I knew the SSR was a kind of a bad example but it seems like the Ute would draw a similar crowd (although not the same because of the aforementioned price scheme). I just don't know if the sales numbers will be there so GM can make a decent profit.

[BigAls87Z28]

Ill put it this way, even if GM sells 5k Utes a year, that is 2x as many as they sell in Australia.
The SSR was a halo car, the G8 ST is an addition to the G8 line.

[DaSkinnyGuy]

Mark my words "The UTE will fail"

The G8 is pontiac's new best thing that will work in the market.

[NJSPEEDER]

it is an extremely sucessful vehicle over seas and will hit the same spot in the US market. there are no real sport trucks in north america, much less one equiped with V8 power.
if the party line contnues with the aussie pricing, it will also be one of hte least expensive ways to get a V8.
i doubt it will take much hype or a big marketing campaign to move this one along.

[Mike]

it is an extremely sucessful vehicle over seas and will hit the same spot in the US market. there are no real sport trucks in north america, much less one equiped with V8 power.

other than the tbss, srt8, and srt10

[NJSPEEDER]

all of the trucks you mention weigh 1000-1700lbs more than the Ute, sit 5-10 inches higher, and cost a whole bunch more than the Ute is most likely to hit the market.

[Mike]

and they are faster than your camaro, so they are sport trucks

[SamhainZ28]

if i can't afford the camaro when the time comes, you better believe ill have one of these in the driveway. I also don't understand how it won't do good, the el camino did great for what it was and im sure this will follow suit

[DaSkinnyGuy]

if i can't afford the camaro when the time comes, you better believe ill have one of these in the driveway. I also don't understand how it won't do good, the el camino did great for what it was and im sure this will follow suit

The only reason I feel it will fail is the SSR was a sport truck that came with a V8 and it didnt do much in the market, it doesnt mean the UTE wont do good it will just come as a surpirse to me if it does.

[Mike]

ssr was useless and over 45k