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Second-Generation Holden Ute Ad Rips It Up: Video

We’ve recently come across a TV ad promoting the 2017 introduction of GM Australian brand Holden‘s second-generation Ute, a pickup based on the Holden Commodore VE.

In the space of just one minute, the ad flies through history, showing several previous Holden models transforming into later ones, while their surroundings do the same. The clever CGI work in the ad also makes the earliest footage look like it was shot several decades before, though a closer look reveals that this can’t have been true.

At around the halfway mark, one Holden vehicle is even shown being picked up (and presumably trashed) by a tornado. It’s easy to imagine that the graphics department had a lot of fun with this one.

Finally, the latest model, painted a vivid shade of metallic green, appears almost full-screen, under the caption, ‘All-New Holden Ute’.

The Holden Commodore VE sedan had been introduced a year earlier, in 2006. The Ute version which followed it was available with several engines, from the atmospheric 3.6-liter V6 to the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 from the fifth-gen Chevy Camaro ZL1, which was rated at 536 horsepower and fitted to the version known as the Holden Maloo.

Holden Ute.

This generation of Commodore was also sold in North America in left-hand-drive form as the Pontiac G8. General Motors planned to introduce a Ute variant too but GM’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy brought an end not only to those plans but also to the Pontiac brand.

The Maloo derivative did travel across the world, but not to North America. In the United Kingdom, where sedan-based pickup trucks with 6.2-liter V8 engines are approximately as common as flying saucers, it was sold in almost exactly the same form as in Australia, except that the Holden badges had been replaced by Vauxhall ones.

Vauxhall Maloo.

Like Pontiac, the Holden brand was discontinued by General Motors. Vauxhall still exists, but it is no longer part of GM. Like its German counterpart, Opel, it was sold to the French conglomerate Groupe PSA, which consisted of Citroen, DS and Peugeot. All five brands have since joined Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep – among many others – to form Stellantis.

Check out the Holden Ute ad in question just below here:

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David has been writing about motoring and motorsport since he was 13 and racing since he was 19. He is British, and therefore apologizes for taking up too much of your time.

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Comments

  1. It’s actually a HSV Maloo, not a Holden Maloo.

    Also you wrote 2017 not 2007.

    Reply
  2. I was all set to buy the Pontiac Sport Truck then Pontiac was killed. I’ve had several El Caminos really like them.

    Reply
  3. With everything “truck” today hard to understand why there is no el Camino today. Seems like demand for car based trucks is growing.

    Reply
  4. GM Holden was definitely more fun than GM North America. I feel cheated.

    Reply
    1. Yep. As an Aussie, believe me, the feeling’s mutual. Still furious we lost Holden. The best rear wheel drive family sedans, wagons and utes in the world for the money. And in the sportiest HSV versions, close to BMW M5’s. Unfortunately our government supports coal but not manufacturing and that was as big a factor in GM’s decision as anything.

      Reply
      1. Martin
        So true Paul LNP threw Holden under the bus along with thousands of jobs.
        I’ve still got a VF/2 redline I’ll be keeping.

        Reply
  5. Hey Paul and Martin do some research and you’ll see just how Holden was being kept going by the tax payer for a very long time and unfortunately it had to end some day nothing to do with any government just market forces and those bloody suv’s.

    Reply
    1. I believe that if more Holdens were sold worldwide as Pontiacs, Chevys, Vauxhalls, Opels, and others, and the front office actually marketed them, the marque would be alive today, or at least GM Australia would be and ongoing force. Opportunities were lost. Labor costs were high, but we have that problem in the States as well.

      Reply
    2. Most governments do top car industries around the world the Australian government did so and and jobs but sadly they have never backed any Aussie company’s and still don’t they have to go overseas to get backing pissed of gm didn’t do there homework to save Holden very short sighted still got 2 maloos and a vf wagon and a hq ute

      Reply
  6. I had a 2005 Colorado Sport (2″ lower). I loved that truck. If GM built a Camaro based UTE I would buy it.

    Reply
    1. I’m starting to like that idea. It might actually keep the Camaro alive a bit longer.

      Reply
  7. Hey Brett you have no idea what your talking about pal all car companies in the world are supported by tax payers & governments so your comment its absolute rubbish & the government got $40 billion in taxes from the car industry so please go & cry somewhere else

    Reply
    1. Calm down old mate I’m not the one shedding a tear a good business goes down hill for a reason and GM in Australia was unfortunate that its products were not diverse enough for the market same as Ford you can’t depend on one major product line ie: Commodore and Falcon no one wants to see this happening to Australian manufacturing and don’t forget GM’s hand in this either it’s not all about any government don’t forget as you said they don’t want to lose those taxes either.

      Reply
  8. Holden was the last stand for GM greatness

    Reply
  9. The UK govt in the last 20 years realised the mistake it made by abandoning their car manufacturing industry with the loss of jobs and innovation. It finally dawned upon their politicians that pumping billions into short term economic fixes did not work so they reinvested back into the car industry and the car manufacturing industry returned. I hope one day soon the POLITICIANS of my country AUSTRALIA wake up and realised the mistake they made!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
    1. So true Chris they have billions for outdated submarines that are useless,prop up the fossil fuel industry and billionaires who don’t need propping up but nothing for our local car industry.
      Holden would have moved into the hybrid/electric cars like other manufacturers.

      Reply
  10. Yeah well Generous Motors is only interested in making Barra a multi-millionaire by sucking at the China made car teat. Shanghai General Motors Company… GMC-Buick dealers are loaded with Envision models. Can you say sold out?

    Reply

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