My wife and I just came back from vacation in New Zealand and while we there I picked up a magazine called "Motor". In the mag they were talking about how good of a deal Americans will be getting on the new Pontiac G8 and they also mentioned that Holden will announce shortly that they will export the Ute to the states 8O I couldn't find the article online but here's another story about it. They now have a 4 door version called the Crewman down there. I really DID NOT like them at first but they are starting to grow on me. When I get home I'll post some pics of the Ute's I saw down there.

Holden Ute coming to the US (http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=29269&vf=12)

Dave

The only question is when.

My GTO will be going away as soon as I can order one of these for myself.

If this happens----both T-birds will be GONE!!!

Bryan

Is it or isn't it coming to the US? How's $39,000 MSRP for the LS2 version sound...I'm strictly guessing of course, so don't hold me to it. Will it wear El Camino badges...maybe yes, maybe no! Start saving your money though! You might want to hold off on trading in that GTO for a new Trans Am depending on how sales go with the Camaro...the Trans Am looks even better than the Camaro in appearance! I just love starting rumors. :lol:

Well, this is a good bit more than simple rumor. GM has been messing with Utes here in the US for a long time now and this has been under consideration even longer. Here are some tidbits I know about:

- The main barrier to doing this before was US trade tarrifs on trucks, a recent agreement with Australia has removed this barrier.

- Lutz wants to do it, and he usually gets what he wants.

-Holden has all but announced it.

- It won't happen until the new Ute goes into production in Australia, set to happen very soon.

- Holden had to make the business case for the new Ute and for a time it was in doubt until exports became part of the equation. I'll let you figure out where those might be going.

The VE architecture which underpins the new Holdens was designed to meet US spec from the start and is nearly the same as that which underpins the new Camaro. The two versions are set to be commonized in the next few years. This architecture is known as Zeta, and more recently, as the Global RWD Architecture. That is exactly what it will be, with cars built on it in North America, Australia, and China for starters.


So, that's a thumbnail of why I say "when" instead of "if". My best guess?

It will be a couple of years, but it could be done much faster.

Oh, and Trans Am is notgonnahappen.com

If Firebird ever returns, and that is unlikely, it won't be a Camaro twin.

One last thing: Utes are cheap, even in Australia.

So, I think we will all be pleased with the price.

For the life of me I can't find a single shot of a Ute from my 4,800+ pics. I probably shot video of some. I wouldn't they would be almost $40,000. I really have no idea but from what it sounds like, we'll be getting a better deal on the G8 than they even will down there. I would image entry levels being in the high $20k range to probably mid $30k range for upper level models. It will be interesting to see what badge it will wear. The Holdens coming over are badged as Pontiacs. Having it named the El Camino would be the logical choice in my opinion. Anyway here is a link with some info on it from Holden's site.

Holden Ute SV6 (http://www.holden.co.nz/vehicle/ute/ute-sv6/inside.html)

Holden Ute SS (http://www.holden.co.nz/vehicle/ute/ute-ss/inside.html)


Holden Crewman SS (http://www.holden.co.nz/vehicle/crewman/crewman-ss/inside.html)

Dave

Well, this is a good bit more than simple rumor. GM has been messing with Utes here in the US for a long time now and this has been under consideration even longer. Here are some tidbits I know about:

- The main barrier to doing this before was US trade tarrifs on trucks, a recent agreement with Australia has removed this barrier.

- Lutz wants to do it, and he usually gets what he wants.

-Holden has all but announced it.

- It won't happen until the new Ute goes into production in Australia, set to happen very soon.

- Holden had to make the business case for the new Ute and for a time it was in doubt until exports became part of the equation. I'll let you figure out where those might be going.

The VE architecture which underpins the new Holdens was designed to meet US spec from the start and is nearly the same as that which underpins the new Camaro. The two versions are set to be commonized in the next few years. This architecture is known as Zeta, and more recently, as the Global RWD Architecture. That is exactly what it will be, with cars built on it in North America, Australia, and China for starters.


So, that's a thumbnail of why I say "when" instead of "if". My best guess?

It will be a couple of years, but it could be done much faster.

Thanks for you input Camino LS6. I thought the poor GTO sales would've killed this plan. Then I read a while back about them building the GTO (Zeta Platform) in Canada in the near future. The Ute coming here is great news!

Dave

The one we would be getting won't look like those, they are going out of production now and the new one hasn't started yet. It will have a more chisled look like the new Holden Commodore and the Pontiac G8.

Thanks for you input Camino LS6. I thought the poor GTO sales would've killed this plan. Then I heard a while back about them building in Canada. This is great news.

Dave

My pleasure.

About the GTO, its sales really weren't bad at all. They were capped at 18,000/year, and while they never reached that level, the cars sold pretty well. Additionally, the entire GTO run was a bonus for GM as the business case for the car (as a Holden Monaro) made a profit without even one GTO being sold. The car was also sold in England as a Vauxhall, and in the Middle East as a Chevy. Only the few thousand Monaros per year were used in building the business case so GM did quite well with the GTO.

And I have to tell you, it is a fantastic car! One drive and I was in love - so I bought one. Any El Camino built by Holden will be a no-brainer for me.

Thanks for you input Camino LS6. I thought the poor GTO sales would've killed this plan. Then I heard a while back about them building in Canada. This is great news.

Dave

My pleasure.

About the GTO, its sales really weren't bad at all. They were capped at 18,000/year, and while they never reached that level, the cars sold pretty well. Additionally, the entire GTO run was a bonus for GM as the business case for the car (as a Holden Monaro) made a profit without even one GTO being sold. The car was also sold in England as a Vauxhall, and in the Middle East as a Chevy. Only the few thousand Monaros per year were used in building the business case so GM did quite well with the GTO.

And I have to tell you, it is a fantastic car! One drive and I was in love - so I bought one. Any El Camino built by Holden will be a no-brainer for me.

I got to drive a 05 6spd and a auto at GM's Auto Show in Motion before they pulled the plug on the rolling car show. The interior is top notch in that car. The explosive power band from the 6L was awesome. I just wish I had more seat time in it.

Here are a couple of shots of the upcoming G8 as a Holden if I am not mistaken. The trim level might be slightly different. To me at certain angles it looks like a new BMW M5. Sweet looking ride. These were taken a couple weeks ago at a race track in Taupo New Zeland. The police were doing some training. Note- to see the full size pic press and hold Ctrl and click on the image.

http://i14.tinypic.com/2cg27hl.jpg

http://i14.tinypic.com/2irvp51.jpg

Dave

Here's the angle that reminds me of an M5.

http://i11.tinypic.com/2hn3nuh.jpg

Dave

Thanks for those pics, Dave.

Now, just graft a bed on that car and you have the next Ute. :cool:

Thanks for those pics, Dave.

Now, just graft a bed on that car and you have the next Ute. :cool:

No problem. That will be one mean looking... El Camino hopefully :D

Dave

Check out this concept older concept 8O The production has been out for some time. I did actually see one while in NZ and the woman had replaced the Lion for a Bow Tie 8)

Another article on the Ute coming over (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2006/10/thunder_2_quarter.jpg&imgrefurl=http://jalopnik.com/cars/gossip/say-its-so-mate-holden-ute-coming-stateside-234286.php&h=261&w=475&sz=61&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=0dR97mnMcqa0UM:&tbnh=71&tbnw=129&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dupcoming%2BHolden%2BUte%26gbv%3D2%26s vnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX)

http://photo.netcarshow.com/Holden-HSV_Maloo_Ute_Concept_2001_photo_01.jpg (http://www.netcarshow.com/holden/2001-hsv_maloo_ute_concept/)

Dave

That is the HRT Maloo, a one-off showpiece for the Holden Racing Team. It was powered by a Zo6 LS6 V8. I used it for a sig on another site a few years ago. I'll see if I still have it.

Seems I've lost that old sig, but here is my current one on that site.

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/25/caminowaiting0yp9xe.jpg

If the good ole us gov gets any inkling of a decent product coming to the states it will be overly scrutinized and have emission standards that will give it a inline four w/ catalytic converters on each cylinder and a "sportiness tax". If it makes it here I will definitely give it a Drive and possible purchase...but until then it's 3.00 a gallon and 327C.I. Fun ....lol :P

As an active Aussie member here on ECC let me know what information I can get for you from and Aussie perspective on the Holden Ute.

As has been stated already in this thread, production of the new VE Ute is scheduled for quarter 3 or early Q4 this year. The Ute is based on the long wheelbase platform which is used on the Statesman and Cparice and not the Commodore (both the same platform actually just the Ute will be on the stretched one).

Given they are estimating the G8 to be around the US$30k mark I would expect the ute to be a bit lower than that as it is cheaper in similar spec here in OZ (ie. SS Commodore sedan A$44,990 to SS Commodore Ute A$42,990)

This may be redundant (I just posted the link under the "2011 El Camino" heading, and it may have been listed elsewhere), but I didn't see it in this string, and it seemed pertinent:

http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/2011/chevrolet/elcamino/future1.html

As an active Aussie member here on ECC let me know what information I can get for you from and Aussie perspective on the Holden Ute.

As has been stated already in this thread, production of the new VE Ute is scheduled for quarter 3 or early Q4 this year. The Ute is based on the long wheelbase platform which is used on the Statesman and Cparice and not the Commodore (both the same platform actually just the Ute will be on the stretched one).

Given they are estimating the G8 to be around the US$30k mark I would expect the ute to be a bit lower than that as it is cheaper in similar spec here in OZ (ie. SS Commodore sedan A$44,990 to SS Commodore Ute A$42,990)

Glad you're willing to give us the local update!

I hear they've moved-up the release date to Springtime, so you should be hearing something soon.