Holden->ke33 has built small utility vehicles since the early 1950s. At first it was the Special-based Utility. The Kingswood-based coupe utility followed in 1968 and remained an integral part of the lineup until the model got the axe in 1984. The body style returned in 1990 as part of the Commodore->ke1480 family and adopted the familiar Ute name. Since Chevrolet cut the El Camino from its lineup in 1987, the Ute->ke1425 remained the only mainstream utility coupe->ke141 manufactured by General Motors. The Holden Ute has become increasingly powerful over the last two decades, especially with HSV building its beefed-up version. Unfortunately, the Ute saga will come to an end in 2016, when Holden is scheduled to cease vehicle manufacturing operations in Australia. As the 2015 model year looms, HSV is bidding farewell to its iconic muscle pickup->ke242 by launching the GTS Maloo, the most-powerful Ute ever created in Australia.

Still cranky about GM->ke2320 not wanting to import the Commodore Ute to North America? Well, then get ready to have a seizure because the GTS Maloo is the coolest coupe utility since the 1970 El Camino SS 454 LS6. And it's supercharged!

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 HSV GTS Maloo.

2015 HSV GTS Maloo

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 HSV GTS Maloo
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 576 @ 6150
  • Torque: 546 @ 3850
  • Transmission: 6-speed manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Visually, the GTS Maloo is essentially a regular Maloo ute fitted with styling cues from the GTS sedan. The pickup borrows the entire front fascia of the GTS, which adds a touch of aggressiveness by means of an aerodynamic bumper with large air dams. Other features include exclusive daytime running lamps, revised side skirts, a twin-hump hard tonneau, and shadow-chrome quad exhaust tips. Rounding off the distinctive package are lightweight, 20-inch "Blade" wheels finished in an exclusive Dark Stainless paint and a unique license plate surround. Naturally, the tailgate is adorned by "LSA" and "GTS" badges.

The GTS Maloo also marks the introduction of two new colors to the HSV range. First up is the Jungle Green seen in the above photos. The second hue -- called "Some Like It Hot" -- is a rich combination of bronze and red.

Exterior Dimensions

Length

5,121 MM (201.61 Inches)

Width (exc. mirrors)

1,899 MM (74.76 Inches)

Height

1,465 MM (57.67 Inches)

Wheelbase

3,009 MM (118.46 Inches)


Interior

Owners of the limited-edition GTS Maloo will benefit from the same interior as the Maloo R8, but with a few extras on top. The HSV Performance seats come wrapped in Onyx leather as standard, but buyers can also have the optional Red Hot trim for a livelier theme. Another extra feature is HSV's Driver Preference Dial, an interface that allows the driver to adjust the ute's ESC, traction control, launch control, torque vectoring, and Bi-Modal Exhaust to three distinct pre-set modes. As with most HSVs, the GTS Maloo features Touring, Sport and Performance modes.

On the technology side, the GTS Maloo is also equipped with a head-up display, forward collision alert, lane departure warning and rain-sensing wipers. Lastly, there's also HSV's unique Enhanced Driver Interface system to provide drivers with all the performance data of their ute.

Drivetrain

Motivating the HSV GTS Maloo is GM's supercharged, 6.2-liter, LSA V-8 engine. This unit debuted in the Cadillac CTS-V in 2009 and found its way into the Camaro ZL1 starting 2012, and now it generates 576 horsepower and 546 pound-feet of torque under the hood of this ute. That's 131 ponies and 139 pound-feet of twist more than the Maloo R8, previously the most powerful ute built by HSV. The powerplant mates to either a TR6060 six-speed manual gearbox with or an optional 6L90E six-speed automatic transmission.

HSV has yet to release performance figures, but the GTS Maloo should need fewer than five seconds to accelerate from naught to 60 mph, and top speed likely sits at 180 mph.

Keeping the GTS Maloo on its best behavior is HSV's torque-vectoring system. Available for the very first time on this Holden Commodore-based ute, torque vectoring helps reduce understeer by generating a "rotational moment" in the rear axle when the vehicle is under power. The electronic stability control (ESC) system detects understeer and applies braking to the inside rear wheel and transfers torque to the outside rear wheel. The system is pretty similar to Porsche's own torque-vectoring feature. I bet you never thought you'd find something like this in a pickup.

Drivetrain Specifications

Type

6.2-liter LSA V-8

Output

576 HP @ 6,150 RPM

Torque

546 LB-FT @ 3,850 RPM

Transmission

six-speed manual/six-speed automatic


Prices

No word on pricing as of 09/15/2014, but HSV did mention production of the GTS Maloo will be limited to only 250 units. 240 of them will be sold in Australia while 10 will find homes in New Zealand. Expect the GTS Maloo to fetch slightly more than the GTS sedan, which is priced from $92,990 in Australia ($84,049 as of 09/15/2014).

Competition

FPV GS Ute

Just like the Holden Commodore Ute has only one rival in the Ford Falcon Ute, the HSV Maloo only competes against the FPV GS Ute. Much like the Maloo, the GS Ute is a beefed-up version of the Falcon pickup, but FPV's muscle pickup is nowhere near its rival in terms of power. Whereas the GTS Maloo comes with 576 horsepower and 546 pound-feet of twist, the GS Ute's supercharged, 5.0-liter, V-8 engine cranks out 422 ponies and 402 pound-feet. Sure, that's nothing to sneeze at, but the Ford-badged pickup comes with a deficit of 154 horses.

Those looking for something less common can purchase the limited-edition Pursuit Ute. While it doesn't feature any performance upgrades, the Pursuit stands out in the crowd, thanks to its unique stripe package, special badging and body features borrowed from the F6 high-performance sedan. Needless to say, Ford Performance Vehicles should consider a more powerful special-edition ute before the GS disappears for good.

Conclusion

The death of Holden is probably the most tragic thing to happen to Australia since Crocodile Hunter's Steve Irwin and famed racing driver Peter Brock died in 2006. Seeing the Ute go down with the Commodore is equally saddening. Maybe some miracle will finally convince GM to build one in North America for both the U.S. and Australia, but judging by the ute's recent sales figures that's not very likely. Be that as it may, the GTS Maloo is doing an excellent job at sending the ute into the history books. One final collectible to mark the end of an era. It comes with a supercharged engine, enough technology to rival with any German rig, and high-impact colors that remind us of the muscle car era. What more could you want besides the ute living past 2016?