Following the 2016 Holden VF Commodore Series II sedan and sportwagon is the Ute body style. The Ute sits as a two-door truck variant with a bed, a long-standing Australian configuration. After the current VF Commodore exits production in 2017, the Ute body style will be retired, as Holden sources the next 2018 Commodore from Opel.
The 2016 Commodore Series II Ute debuted alongside the Commodore Series II sedan and Sportwagon, but made its public debut at the 17th annual Deniliquin Ute Muster in Australia.
Much like the sedan and Sportwagon, the same front fascia in applied, with a chiseled front end for better aerodynamics. The 6.2-liter LS3 V8 is also on hand as a range topping engine, shared with the sedan and Sportwagon.
“It’s a perfect demonstration of how Holden understands the unique needs of Australian ute drivers who want a functional car for the week but with the added performance and character for an engaging weekend drive,” said Holden’s Lead Dynamics Engineer, Rob Trubiani.
The VF Commodore Series II Ute will likely be the last Holden Ute to be produced, as Holden manufacturing winds down and ceases in late 2017.
The exterior of the 2016 Commodore Series II Ute sits as evolutionary, rather than revolutionary. The front fascia houses many of the major exterior changes which include the following:
- A sculpted front fascia, which sends air towards the wheels and improves aerodynamics
- Functional hood vents
- New LED signature lighting
- “LS3” and “Series II” badging in the front and rear.
Exterior colors for the 2016 Commodore Series II Ute include:
- Heron White
- Nitrate Silver
- Prussian Steel Gray
- Jungle Green
- Slipstream Blue
- Red Hot
- Some Like It Red Hot
- Phantom Black
The 2016 Holden VF Commodore Series II Ute is offered in a handful of trims, and also includes a Holden Special Vehicles, or HSV, high-performance variant.
The 2016 Commodore Series II Ute is offered in the following trims:
- Holden Commodore Base Ute
- Ute SV6
- Ute SS
- Ute SS-V
- Ute SS-V Redline
HSV offers the 2016 Maloo R8 as a range-topping, high performance Ute with supercharged LSA power. For more information on the Maloo R8, click here.
Engine
There are two engine options for the 2016 Commodore Series II Ute: a V6 engine for lower trims, and V8 engine for performance oriented trims.
For base and SV6 Utes, the LY7 3.6-liter V6 serves to power the vehicle, also known as General Motors’ Alloytec line of engines. In this application, the engine makes 282 hp at 6,700 RPM and 258 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 RPM.
For SS, SS-V and SS-V Redline models, Holden introduced the 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine, replacing the 6.0-liter V8. The LS3 V8 makes 408 hp at 6,000 RPM and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 RPM in this configuration.
Transmission
Two transmissions are offered for the 2016 Commodore Series II Ute. Either a six-speed manual gearbox, or a six-speed automatic handle shifting duties. The automatic is the only option for the Base Ute, while either transmission may be had with the SV6, SS, SS-V and SS-V Redline.
The 2016 Commodore Series II Ute does not see major updates to the interior cabin, but is awash with interior technology. A Heads Up Display is offered with latest version of Holden MyLink. A rearview camera, automatic park assist and blind spot alert are all also available across various trims.
The 2016 Holden VF Commodore Series II Ute starts at $37,787 AUD for a base Ute trim, but quickly moves to $55,447 AUD for a range topping SS-V Redline.
The 2016 Holden VF Commodore Series II Ute is on sale now, and will be produced until Holden manufacturing ends in late 2017.
