Holden Confirms Two Ute's Testing In The US

[JoeT]

Holden VE Ute Off To US?

Stephen Ottley
4 September 2007
www.carsguide.com.au

The VE could be going to the US but don't hold your breath for a diesel engine in the workhorse.

Speaking at its launch last week in Melbourne, Holden chairman Chris Gubbey confirmed two examples of the ute that are being tested in North America.

It is a clear indication of GM intentions to sell the ute in the US as a Chevrolet El Camino.

GM powerbroker Bob Lutz makes no secret of the fact he'd like to see the car in the US market, but Gubbey isn't so forthcoming.

“It's definitely not a done deal. We have prototypes over there. They are reviewing the vehicle. Holden is now the centre for rear-wheel-drive for General Motors. We're looking at any opportunity we can to export any product we come out with,” he says.

Gubbey says the car has received a positive reception from GM officials, but says a deal hasn't been worked out.

“The guys who have seen it in the US are really excited about the design. They just have to balance whether that fits the demographics and segmentation of their own markets,” Gubbey says.

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GMI Exclusive: Holden Ute May Head For The US, But It Won't Be A Chevrolet, Says Lutz

[JoeT]

It is a clear indication of GM intentions to sell the ute in the US as a Chevrolet El Camino

Even though Bob Lutz himself has stated any US Ute will not be a Chevrolet.

[ZHDesign57]

Bob's probably telling a fib, How could you not have this Ute and not make a Chevy and Pontiac version!?

[chevydlrmn]

ship it over, lets sell el caminos. will they call it a truck for cafe?

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by chevydlrmn

ship it over, lets sell el caminos. will they call it a truck for cafe?

I'd hope so being the HHR is a "truck."

[Slideways]

I've seen a ute in the states, but was in Vegas, near the Hilton, the week of SEMA. I never did see it inside though.

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by JoeT

Even though Bob Lutz himself has stated any US Ute will not be a Chevrolet.

I think this is an assumption from the author rather than fact. He should spend more time on GMI

[asim]

Originally Posted by ZHDesign57

Bob's probably telling a fib, How could you not have this Ute and not make a Chevy and Pontiac version!?

Yeah, interesting. But why would he have to lie to us about that?

[JoeT]

Originally Posted by mikmak

I think this is an assumption from the author rather than fact. He should spend more time on GMI

I was thinking the same thing. Mr Lutz isn't telling us porkies, as he has been very honest with us in the past.

[MonaroSS]

.

In Lutz's second email to me, which I have referred to but it was not as widely published as the first, he says; "I think that saying that IF we import it, it won't be a Chevrolet due to the breadth of their current product line, is fine." That was in response to me checking if it was OK me sharing with GMI.

So I would say that even Bob would love to see a new El Camino. However, GM has to balance (1) the bad reaction to an prior Aussie vehicle filling a former GM hero nameplate "cough" GTO "cough", (2) the fact that for a niche vehicle that shares most things with G8 then economies say the spares and servicing should be done at Pontiac dealers and (3), as Bob says above, Chevrolet already have enough product line.

[Gm786]

I have high hopes for it to come to the U.S. I think the Holden Ute would fit either as a Pontiac or a GMC.

[BigAls87Z28]

I still cant buy into the fact that since the GTO failed due to image, that the Elco will.
Another A-body reborn, only this time its history and depth of enthusiast culture is pretty shallow. It also had several variations over the years, where the GTO did not. Elco went from A body, to G body based for the 80's. I think it would be safe to bring it over as a Chevy.
I will say it again, if the Ute was available in 2004, instead of the GTO, I would have been more then happy to pay the extra money a month for a Elco SS.
I say, jack it up 5/6 inches front and rear, AWD it, and call it a Hummer. Throw in some extra skid plates, LS3 powerd "Alpha", ladies and gents...its the H5!!

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

...its the H5!!

I don't care what everyone says... you sometimes DO have good ideas!

Hummer won't last forever with 4 mpg tanks... what a cool wayt to expand the brand. With an H5 Ute and the 'planned' H3 pickup, they could squeeze Jeep's Commanche nicely. I still think a super-tough AWD Eagle 4x4-type Hummer car would be great.

[mikmak]

Funny you should mention that BigAl. That was my first ever dodgy chop, based on the AWD HSV Avalanche.
It was super dodgy and I haven't got any better. I was really just having a laugh but it is an almost sound idea.

[Rick_VT]

Maybe Bob is just trying to put some confusion in our mind as to which brand will end up with the VE ute cause they dont want to give to much away to soon, possibly the basic workhorse versions will go to Chevy and maybe Pontiac could have the HSV versions, but that would seem unlikely to have the same vehicle in 2 diff brands, not that GM hasnt done that before