Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Holden claims new 'Ring lap time record for trucks

Gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/holde...photo-5998034/

General Motors' thunder from Down Under, Holden, is claiming a new lap record at the Nürburgring... in the commercial and utility vehicle segment. You see, the company's amusingly powerful Ute is technically classified as a Class NA Light Goods Vehicle, so despite its car platform, one can technically argue that it's a commercial pickup truck. Kinda sorta.

In any case, Holden recently brought its new VF SS Redline Ute to the 'Ring, and the company's dynamics engineer, Rob Trubiani, posted a lap time of 8:19.47. Sure, this means the Ute is at the top of the pickup class at the Green Hell, but it's only the third vehicle of its kind (sort of) to run the 'Ring. Previously, pickup lap times have been performed in the Dodge Ram SRT10 and the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor... and that's about it.

Thankfully, Holden captured the event on camera, and regardless of how you feel about the vehicle's classification in the pickup segment, you should check out the 349-horsepower Ute's 'Ring run in the video below.


http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/28/h...rucks-w-video/

mmarshall

The only problem is.............that's not a truck, at least not IMO. Like the old Chevy El Camino and Ford Ranchero (and some older VW Rabbits), it is a sedan/hatchback with the back seat/truck-space converted into a small imitation truck-bed. In fact, I sometimes wonder why Chevy doesn't market it here in America AS a new El Camino. Pontiac had plans for a similiar vehicle (on the same platform/chassis), but it, of course, was axed wth the demise of the nameplate.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Correct the above picture is typically classified as a "ute". However it appears the Nürburgring considers this as part of the "commercial and utility vehicle segment" which includes trucks, utes, cuvs, suvs and vans

mmarshall

Yes, I understand that. But, personally, I wouldn't even consider it a Ute. Unlike the Subaru Outback/Baja, which are also converted sedans, this Holden platform has neither AWD or a high Ute-like ground clearance.

Anyhow, semantics or not (or how you define it), like other Holden products on the same platform, it does seem to have the performance.

spwolf

wrong thread

mmarshall

How? Looks to me like a perfectly legitimate thread for CAR CHAT. Hoovey has been posting autoblog reviews in this forum for years.