Hans
Lehmann adds his take on the return of the El Camino. If you like
this story, you'll also want to check out Mark Stehrenberger's earlier
rendering of a 2011 All-American Ute.
Want
to learn more about the history of utility-class pickups? Check out
our look back at these car-based haulers.
Following
on the success of its Pontiac GTO export deal to the US, GM's Aussie
division Holden earlier this year struck a deal to export sporty
versions of its new VE Commodore sedans to the States, badged as
the Pontiac G8.
Now,
with the Ute, or pickup truck, version of the VE Commodore due to
be released in Australia in just over one month's time, we have produced
a computer illustration of what a Chevy version might look like.
There
have been confirmed reports that GM is interested in this vehicle
and, given that the car is sold in Australia in a sporty V8 guise,
it's possible that it might provide GM the opportunity to dust off
the legendary El Camino nameplate. Wheels magazine reported
the following in its June issue: "Ever since GM's global product boss
Bob Lutz became interested in rebadging Holdens for North America,
there has been speculation – much of it from Lutz himself – that
the Ute could work as a reborn Chevrolet El Camino. As recently as
February, outgoing Holden MD Denny Mooney was talking up the Ute export
program. "I can tell you we've been working on that for over a year
(and) the Ute would be unique in the US. It has a fair likelihood (of
happening)."
From
the A-pillar forward the ute is a dead ringer for the Commodore sedan,
but aside form the front doors the rest of the car's panels will
be unique pressings. The underpinnings, however, are firmly Commodore-based,
meaning a 2915mm wheelbase, strut front suspension, and multi-link
rear suspension.
Whereas
in Australia the Ute spans everything from a basic V6 workhorse at
the lower end of the range, right through to a V8-powered SS sports
version, any future El Camino would almost certainly be based on
the latter.
That
means power from a 362-hp 6.0-liter V8, mated to either a six-speed
manual or a six-speed auto. Elsewhere, the package would include
leather trim, 19" or 20" alloy wheels, and quad exhaust
pipes. With an expected curb weight of around 3,682-lbs this will be
one rapid load hauler.
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