Jalopnik: Holden VE

HSV Senator Signature SV08 Has The Floor

Mark Arnold — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:40:00 EDT

Unveiled alongside the 40th Anniversary GTS, the HSV Senator Signature SV08 is a limited edition of the more luxury-oriented version of the Holden Commodore. It's a bit more exclusive, with just 20 equipped with a manual transmission and 30 automatics. It's also a bit more expensive, with a price tag equivalent to just over $57,000 in Ameros. For that, you get additional chrome accenting on the side mirrors and door handles, and 20" rims standard. More importantly, you still get the same 412 HP 6.0-liter LS2 V8 as the normal HSV Senator. Too bad we can't get something like this in America badged as a Buick Park Avenue.

[HSV]

PUTC Sets Up Aussie Sh-Ute-Out Between Holden VE And Ford Falcon FG, We Demand Dibs On Round Two!

Ray Wert — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Color us here at Jalopnik red with jealousy. Our friends at PickupTrucks.com sent their Aussie stringer James Stanford out back to let him get in touch with his inner hoon. What better way to do it than by running a brand spankin' new 2008 Holden VE Ute head-to-head with a 2008 Ford Falcon FG Ute? Stanford found out all the really important technical details on the two new car-based pickups — like both can hold a slab of 24 stubbies (beer bottles) behind each seat. Yes, the important technical details were covered, but how do each Ute do at going frontways? Sideways? Backways? You'll have to head over to PUTC for the specifics, but according to Stanford, the Ford out-drags the Holden, but the Holden took down the Falcon by a few tenths of a second in the almost-quarter-mile. We think we'd probably call that a tie. Sounds to us like they should send team Jalopnik over for the round two, eh?

[PickupTrucks.com]

2001 Holden VU S Completely Roo Proof, Possibly Dekotora Inspired

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:00:00 EDT

If you want a peek into the end-of-life future of the Pontiac G8 Utes to come, here's a good idea what kids in the heartland will be doing with the almost El Camino after it does the 1 lap of depreciation. This example for sale in Oz is going for approximately $21,954 USD, but it's still redneck-tastic. We'd be lying if we said in our younger days, half our friends didn't have aftermarket bumpers like this on their trucks, so we know the motivation for installing guards like this - primarily deer, or in this case kangaroos.

Since Roo's are pests in Australia like deer and antelope here, and not of the cuddly belly-pocket toting icons they are in the US, making sure your Holden wins in a fight is more important than looks. Of course, depending on your perspective it does look pretty badass. We've got a shiny new nickel that says this ride has never done a donut in its life. [DigiAds]

926 HP Holden Ute: Blueprint For An Epic Pontiac G8 El Camino

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:45:00 EDT

Considering everything under the skin of the new Pontiac G8 El Camino sport truck is basically a Holden Ute, it stands to reason all the modifications done to this truck-car could be done to our sport truck. How would you feel about a 926 HP El Camino? We would feel pretty good about it, all seven seconds we drove it before planting it into a wall somewhere. The mega-hoons at C.A.P.A. Performance who build this baby really understand the idea of Maximum El Camino Day - it's every day of their lives.

We'll let them tell the story on this very serious business-in-the-front ute:

We started building our new project car, a VE SS Ute 3 weeks before Summernats. There were many late nights spent building an Engine, Strengthening the Driveline and Developing the Supercharger kit to where it is now.
The engine was stroked to 409 cubic inches, with a one off crank, rods and pistons installed to ensure the engine could withstand over 20psi of boost at 7200rpm. A Custom Camshaft and Ported Big Valve Heads were also used in the build. A custom supercharger kit was developed to allow a V7 YSi Supercharger to be driven off the crank with a 50mm gilmer pulley system. The supercharger kit install includes larger 3.5" pipework and a Custom 200mm thick intercooler with Mondo Bypass Valve mounted behind the front bumper. Exhaust Gasses leave the engine via CAPA 1 7/8" Tri-Y Extractors and a Twin 3" Exhaust.

With all the extra power up front, the drivetrain and brakes had to be upgraded accordingly, with a built T-56 gearbox, Twin Plate Clutch and Full Spool 3.45" installed. Touring Car inspired brakes help bring the Ute to a halt, with 365mm 6 Piston Front and 320mm 4 Piston Rear Brakes sitting behind 22" wheels wrapped in 245mm and 265mm wide rubber. The car sits lower to the ground using Bilstien Coil-overs specifically set up for this ute.

Additional fuel is supplied by an alloy fuel tank, 3 bosch motorsport pumps and a Vortech Super FMU.

We entered our ute in the Horsepower Heroes dyno competition, and it made 856.6 Horsepower at the wheels. The Ute is capable of producing more power, but we had some unfortunate issues with the Clutch slipping. We will be working with Xtreme to build a more powerful clutch before we run the ute up again, which should see the Ute produce over 1000 Horsepower at the wheels. We also took home the Top Super Tech Trophy, which was awarded to the best Street Car which features New Technology and High Levels of Innovation.

[C.A.P.A.]