Paris Motor Show 2008Paris Motor Show, 4-19th October 2008

HSV Maloo R8

Yes, yes, this is another Ute, but it's really rather special. Where as the VE Sportwagon is equivalent to a Vauxhall VXR8 estate, this is the pick-up version, so there's even more luggage carrying capability than in the Sportwagon - for off-road bikes and the like if you believe the marketing hype.

Drivers won't need to search out bikes for their kicks though, as the Maloo packs the same Corvette-sourced 6.0-litre V8 as its more conventional estate sibling. So that means 412bhp and 406lb.ft for the unladen rear wheels to contend with. Shorn of the extra weight of rear seats and the like, the Maloo hits 62mph from rest in about six seconds, which isn't very becoming of a pick-up now, is it?

HSV stands for Holden Special Vehicles (in case you were wondering) and the high performance division hasn't stopped its modifications at the engine bay. The chassis and brakes have been upgraded too. Though we don't expect to see a Vauxhall-badged version in the UK, it's incredible to note that the Maloo sells in Australia for the equivalent of about thirty thousand pound. What a bargain, mate!

Tuesday October 16

Send by Messenger

Email this article

 Print