Working life planned for Holden's attention-grabbing ute

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Holden didn't design its targa-top Utester just as a show car. The carmaker's managing director, Peter Hanenberger, says it is "serious" about expanding its range of utes.

Hanenberger said the Utester was part of the plan to enhance the ute range. There would be economy and performance versions and possibly a four-wheel-drive option, he said.

But industry analysts said a production version of the Utester wouldn't come off the assembly line until at least next year, or until the two-door Commodore Monaro was up and running.

The Utester with its solid load tray cover has been drawing crowds of ute worshippers at the Melbourne Motor Show.

Its removable glass roof panel is stashed in a luggage compartment behind the cabin, and the power rear window opens to extend the "open air" feel of the vehicle.

The cargo bed can still handle full loads - it extends forward beneath the roof storage compartment.

Holden's design chief, Mike Simcoe, said the show car's features could easily be incorporated into a production model.

Like the Sandman panel van that was such a crowd-puller at the 2000 Sydney Motor Show, the Utester was penned by Holden's design team.

"It was an attention-grabber from the start, not least because we could see it had the practical potential to become a niche production vehicle," says Simcoe.

"If that happens, it will become the only production vehicle of its kind anywhere in the world."

The Utester's interior continues the bold black and yellow theme. The leather seat trim is edged in yellow leather baseball stitching and the contoured yellow bulkhead wall, high-gloss centre console and door trims are highlighted by yellow armrests and storage pockets.

The Utester's instrument panel and steering wheel are finished in leather and the controls and instrumentation feature satin finish detailing. Luxury custom-fitted extras include an Alpine entertainment system with DVD/VCD/CD, LCD monitor, remote control, 12-inch sub-woofer, eight additional speakers and flip-down storage between the seats. Brake, clutch and accelerator pedals are machined aluminium.

Powered by a 5.7 litre 225 kW Gen III V8 engine matched to six-speed manual gearbox, the Utester sits on 19-inch alloy wheels. Expect Holden's all-new SS ute, set to go on sale in New Zealand within the few months, to come with similar styling cues.