Original story by Alastair Doak first published in Drive on 8 March, 2001
Holden's Utester concept will go on sale for about $10,000 more than a standard VU Commodore ute.
The show car, complete with a removable glass roof, a power-operated rear window and a tonneau cover with a two-piece decklid, is a relatively straightforward modification, with most of the items being bolt-on pieces.
At this stage, Holden management has still to work out how the Utester will be made, although Holden By Design may get the job.
Other changes to the car include a restyled cabin with silver highlights, restyled seats and drilled aluminium pedals. The show car also has a DVD and video player with LCD monitor.
Most of the package is said to be earmarked for production, with a figure close to $10,000 likely to be the added cost of buying a Utester version of the VU.
The show car was based on the 5.7-litre V8 that sells for $36,490, so a Utester version would presumably sell for $46,490. Holden management hopes to sell between 50 and 75 a month.
The Utester, described as a “sports coupe concept”, has been designed to help Holden capture the youth and recreational ute market and broaden that model's appeal, but Holden also has plans to increase its grab of the commercial end of this segment.
As Drive revealed last week, Holden, with the help of HSV, has developed a chassis/cab, one-tonne version of the VU.
The project was confirmed last week by senior Holden management, with the company's sales and marketing director, Ross McKenzie, to meet with HSV owner Tom Walkinshaw over the weekend to discuss building the vehicle.
The sticking points are that it is not a cheap conversion because the cabin, bodywork and rear suspension have to be modified.
Unlike other VU utes, the one-tonner uses a leaf-sprung rear-end rather than an independent set-up.
McKenzie believes that as many as 10,000 trayback utes a year would have to be made to make the project viable.'
As we went to press, there was little information available following the meeting between Walkinshaw and McKenzie, but Holden management is said to be confident that the project will get the green light. AD
Did Holden really build a convertible Commodore ute?
Despite many positive statements from within Holden that the Utester was headed for production, the roofless Commodore ute never made it past the concept stage.
High production costs associated with what would, at best, be a low-volume seller, proved insurmountable and in late 2002, the idea was quietly shelved.
Looking back now, you can’t help but think that maybe statements from then GM-H chief Peter Hanenberger describing the Utester as “a fashion statement for the urban-style buyers” didn’t exactly resonate with the typical ute buyer.
Designed by Holden’s young design team led by Peter Hughes and under the watchful eye of chief designer Mike Simcoe, the Utester cut a striking figure at the 2001 Melbourne motor show.
The Utester was built by Holden in collaboration with Victorian-based company Car Tech which was responsible for painting the shell in its distinctive Marque Yellow paint and Jet Black accents, offset inside by a striking yellow and black interior courtesy of Paratus, a Victorian motor trimming business.
Distinguishing the Utester from regular VU utes was its distinctive removable glass panel roof which could be stowed in a small compartment just behind the cabin and a solid tonneau lid adorned with striking aero bumps, lending the Utester a muscle-car vibe. A powered-rear window was designed to complement the removable roof and opening up the cabin to that breezy open-top experience.
Practicality wasn’t compromised, at least according to Simcoe, who said the Utester could still carry full-length loads thanks to the ute tray extending underneath the roof storage compartment. As for the Utester name itself, it was a mash-up of ‘ute’ and ‘roadster’.
Under the bonnet, GM’s heroic Gen III 5.7-litre V8 pumping out 225kW was matched to a six-speed manual transmission.
While ultimately consigned to Holden’s collection of interesting concept cars, some elements of the Utester did find their way onto future Holden production vehicles, like the hard tonneau cover and its bulging aero humps which featured on 2005’s limited-run ‘SSZ’ VZ Commodore ute.
Today, the Utester remains on display at the National Motor Museum in Birdwood, South Australia, a bright yellow reminder of Holden’s world-class innovation.
Certainly, had the Utester made it to the production line, it would have been a far better and more resolved open-topped utility than one that actually did make it into production, the Chevrolet SSR, a retro-styled pick-up with a retractable hardtop and a stonking V8 under the bonnet. The awkward-looking SSR remained in production in the US for just three years, 2003-06, with just over 24,000 cars sold. RM
Rob Margeit is an award-winning Australian motoring journalist and editor who has been writing about cars and motorsport for over 25 years. A former editor of Australian Auto Action, Rob’s work has also appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Wheels, Motor Magazine, Street Machine and Top Gear Australia. Rob’s current rides include a 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and a 2000 Honda HR-V Sport.
