Australia’s auto manufacturing scene is in it’s death rattle phase, and it sucks out loud. Here in America, when a car brand is about to be killed, they suck the fun out of the models until they are something that even Avis won’t put onto their rental lots. Once it’s clear that nobody is buying them anymore, they quietly take them behind the barn to put two between the eyes and that’s that.
In Australia, however, that’s a sorry way to go. Last thing we had heard, Ford was putting on one hell of a farewell show with the Falcon XR8. Now, it’s Holden’s turn, and they’re going for broke, shoving a 577hp/546 ft/lb torque 6.2L LSA under the hood of (what else?) the Maloo ute. This “Maloo GTS” has been a loose secret that Holden reps are not admitting to, but here’s the facts: The Maloo R8 has been the top-speed truck holder for years, at well over 170mph, which stomps the Ford Lightning and the Dodge Ram SRT-10. And the mindset of a company in it’s death throws is “Eh, eff it, let’s make the last one faster”. Ladies and gentlemen, that’s how you go out in style, guns blazing.
With the likelihood of the ute platform making it to our shores near-nonexistant, chances are good that this is going to be the last ute produces by GM anywhere, and that’s a sad truth. Instead, the closest thing we get to look forward to a re-booted Colorado, which will never, ever be able to take the place of the Aussie hot rod with a bed.
Photo: netcarshow.com
One … just one of many mind you … of the stupid things GM has done over the last few decades
Not … bringing over the Holden Ute as an El Camino
Oh well … just like everything else from GM of late …. it’d probably of been recalled and/or try to kill you / burn your house down … so just as well ………… I guess
And with Ford and Toyota leaving Australia’s shores [ as manufactures ] a sad RIP must be said for the Antipodean auto industry . Those Antipodes being unwilling to continue subsidizing an industry that in fact was costing the tax payers billions .
And as goes the Aussie auto industry …. so [ no doubt ] will go the US auto industry as well
Go down guns a blazing I say. Die proud, Die honest to your soul, that is what makes a man (or a car company).
I wasn’t aware that nobody was buying Pontiacs when GM killed them? Also, why have GMC trucks as well as Chevy trucks, just a mirror image.
I had the chance to go to Australia back in 2010, and the first time I laid eyes on a Ute, I had to change my shorts. They were that badass. Then, not 2 miles later, while driving from Coffs Harbour to Surfers Paradise, a Holden Commodore VXR blows by us in our rented Nissan Tilda doing no less than 100. I was hooked immediately. So sad to see it go.
All 150 of these ute’s have sold, in today’s paper http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/hsv-gts-maloo-ute-sold-out-before-holden-puts-it-on-sale/story-fnkgdhrc-1227024722161