Holden to build 100 more of HSV GTS Maloo ute

THE world’s fastest ute, the HSV GTS Maloo, has finally been confirmed. Holden will make 100 more due to the overwhelming demand.

By Joshua Dowling National Motoring EditorNational Motoring Editor

2 min read

September 12, 2014 - 12:00AM

News Corp Australia Network

Supplied News HSV GTS Maloo. STRICT EMBARGO midnight Thursday 11 September 2014.

THE world’s fastest Holden ute is poised to go out with a bigger bang than originally planned.

Due to overwhelming demand for the pick-up that’s as fast as a Porsche — it sold out within 24 hours, a month before it officially went on sale — Holden will increase the number of cars built from 150 to 250.

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The Holden Special Vehicles GTS Maloo is still expected to become one of the most collectable models of the modern muscle car era because it is exactly half the number of the final Ford Falcon GT sedans built.

Only 250 to be built ... The HSV GTS Maloo, the fastest ute in the world.

HSV has confirmed the GTS Maloo powered by a supercharged V8 will go into production in November before arriving in showrooms before the end of the year priced from about $85,000.

HSV wanted to restrict the number built to create a collector car but it decided to increase production after it became apparent some of its best customers had missed out on the supercharged V8 ute, powered by the same engine used in a high-performance Chevrolet Camaro in the US.

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Grunt and performance ... The HSV GTS Maloo is powered by the engine used in a high-performance Chevrolet Camaro in the US. Picture: Supplied

In addition to being the world’s fastest ute, with an expected 0 to 100km/h time of just 4.5 seconds, the HSV GTS Maloo is also the first ute ever with “torque vectoring”, a hi-tech computer-controlled stability control system that can prevent a skid in corners at highway speeds. It’s the same type of system used on the latest Porsche 911.

Speed machine ... The HSV GTS Maloo is expected to travel 0 to 100km/h time of just 4.5 seconds Picture: Supplied

The HSV GTS Maloo also has the most advanced safety features ever fitted to a ute, and the biggest brakes.

HSV boss Tim Jackson said: “We have been working on this project for a couple of years now. There are a number of unique elements required to integrate the (supercharged V8) into the Maloo platform, and significant time in getting all the safety and performance technologies to operate effectively.”

The arrival of the GTS Maloo is expected to coincide with upgrades to the regular Holden Commodore range due to go into production at the Elizabeth factory in Adelaide in November, with deliveries to customers expected just in time for Christmas.

Meanwhile, about a month after it was leaked by dealers, Holden has also officially confirmed it will build a Craig Lowndes special edition Commodore and unveil it at this year’s Bathurst 1000, the 20th anniversary of Lowndes’ debut race there in a Holden. Just 161 will be made, a reference to the number of laps in the Bathurst 1000.

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling