Holden¡¦s Street Smart UTEster Raises The Roof

At Melbourne¡¦s Motor Show, Holden has unveiled a show-stunner - the unique UTEster„· sports coupe concept. As the name implies, it¡¦s a vivid evolution of the Holden Ute theme - created by young designers and loaded with urban ¡¥cool.¡¦

Finished in bright Marque Yellow with contrasting Jet Black accents, the UTEster has a removable glass roof, a rear window that slides out of sight and a tonneau cover with twin aero forms that echo traditional sports car styling cues. Everything about the Holden UTEster - from its 19-inch five-spoke satin finish (Titan Silver) alloy wheels to its smoke-tinted roof, split twin exhausts and custom-designed cabin, excites the eye.

Like the Sandman panel van that was such a crowd-puller at the 2000 Sydney Motor Show, the UTEster began life as a series of sketches penned by a member of Holden¡¦s youthful and talented design team. Inspired by the Roadster and Speedster tags given to other sports-oriented General Motors models, senior designer Peter Hughes - who led the project - also gave the UTEster its unique name.

¡§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 Holden¡¦s Executive In Charge of Design, Michael Simcoe. ¡§While this model is a one-off show special, there¡¦s a reasonable chance that the UTEster could appear in Holden dealer showrooms, pending the result of a feasibility study currently under way. If that happens, it will become the only production vehicle of its kind anywhere in the world,¡¨ he said.

The UTEster¡¦s interior is equally as individual as the exterior. The bold black and yellow theme continues, repeated in the seat trim - Anthracite leather edged in yellow leather baseball stitching - the contoured yellow bulkhead wall, high-gloss centre console and door trims highlighted by yellow armrests and storage pockets.

The UTEster¡¦s instrument panel and steering wheel are finished in Anthracite leather and the controls and instrumentation feature satin finish Titan Silver 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.

Practical matters are not forgotten. The high-gloss, body-coloured aero decklid is a split fold design, lockable and with remote release. The front section, finished in matching yellow, opens to accommodate the UTEster¡¦s„· removable glass roof, and the cargo bed takes a full-length load.

Powered by a 5.7 litre 225 kW GEN III alloy V8 engine matched to 6-speed manual transmission, the UTEster„·, is an evolution of Holden¡¦s all-new Ute SS, set for New Zealand release in the second quarter of this year.

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Contact: Aalbert van Ham (09) 526 6619 (direct telephone line)
E-mail: aalbert.vanham@holden.co.nz

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UTEster„· FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Mechanical
5.7 litre GEN III V8 engine, producing 225 kW of power @ 5,200 rpm
6 speed manual transmission
4 wheel Harrop disc brakes
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Independent Rear Suspension (IRS)
Sports Tuned Suspension
Limited Slip Differential
Power Steering
Split Twin Exhaust System
Safety/Security
Driver and passenger airbags
Pyrotechnic seat belt pre-tensioners
Anti-submarining seat ramps
Automatic collision engine shut down
Encoded remote key
Engine Immobiliser
Dual stage unlocking
Remote deadlocking
Remote decklid release
Comfort/Convenience
Quick release seats for rear access
Power side and rear windows
Lift out glass roof
Steering wheel with height and reach adjust
Electric driver¡¦s seat height and tilt function.
Air conditioning
Cruise control
Headlamps auto off function
Rear window demister
Exterior
Marque Yellow exterior with Jet Black and glass cockpit
19¡¨ alloy wheels and low profile tyres
Harrop brakes with jet-black calipers, UTEster„· graphic
Exclusive Aztec charcoal headlamp treatment
Aero two piece decklid with roof storage bin
Unique rear facia
Race bred aluminium fuel filler
Sports front facia
Lower sports body kit
Foglamps
Power antenna
Interior
Jet black interior theme with body colour flow-through
Black leather sports seats with yellow leather baseball stitching
Black leather instrument panel with high gloss facia and Titan silver accents
Black leather steering wheel
Unique UTEster„· instrumentation
Machined aluminium pedals
Alpine entertainment system with DVD/VCD/CD,
LCD monitor, remote control, 12¡¨ sub woofer and 8 additional speakers
Body colour door inserts and rear bulkhead
Rear oddments bins
Flip down CD and DVD storage between the seats

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