VIDEO: Top Gear flogs the Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst and HSV Maloo
Top Gear gets busy with some Aussie muscle -- Follow the jump to watch
Let's just say that Richard Hammond rightfully digs the blown, delightfully obscene Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst (above, bottom), which costs a not-insignificant £45,000 in Blighty. For that not-insignificant sum, he says, "you get almost limitless vulgarity." Trust us, he's paying it a compliment, based on the s**t-eating grin he wears throughout his stint behind the wheel. Then he drives the HSV Maloo R8 (above, top) – Holden's factory-tuned super-ute, which really is one of the coolest cars we'll never get here. As you'll see, it doesn't haul hay bales particularly well, but it can suck the windshield out of a new Audi S4. Finally, the Stig uses his right foot like a cattle prod with both cars in some split-screen action. It's all good.
After watching this clip, you'll probably want to send some thoughtfully-worded feedback to GM's "Tell Fritz" web thingamajig. You all know Fritz. He's that guy who spiked the return of the Holdens to the U.S. because he doesn't believe in rebadging. Yeah, we're beating a dead horse. We don't care. Watch the video and you won't either. Thanks to Bradley Wint for the heads-up.
Gallery: Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst S
Gallery: HSV Maloo R8
[Source: YouTube]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
JayP 11:43PM (8/02/2009)
Yes, my son (the one that didn't like the Rampage) loved the Maloo.
Once he realized the Maloo was a pickup version of the G8 he wanted to get one today. I explained the ST, how Pontiac was dead and we'd never see such a thing in the US ever.
Then he started placing blame. Wasn't pretty.
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Mike Sylvester 12:58AM (8/03/2009)
If G8 is going to be kept alive in the Chevy Caprice line, I don't see why the Maloo can't be a new El Camino.
Philthy 10:18AM (8/04/2009)
The G8 is not going to be sold as a Caprice or anything else in the USA.
http://www.compusmack.com/images/lastweek3c3.jpg
Farris 11:42PM (8/02/2009)
I must say, I'm not really a fan of the new split screen test track thing they've been doing lately. It makes it really hard to focus.
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Noidor 2:12AM (8/03/2009)
I love these Pontiacs G8 - I'd love to buy one provided I can find it in right spec at fair price. I hope they'll keep them here even as Chevy branded.
Patrick 12:24PM (8/03/2009)
Just watch it twice and pay attention to only one car each time.
adam1drift 12:41PM (8/03/2009)
makes me sad... :( cuz i know we'll never get the UTE in America now...
HotRodzNKustoms 11:51PM (8/02/2009)
The VW ad segment was the most boring Top Gear segment ever and it went on twice as long as it should have. The rest of the episode was entertaining enough with the ending being quite sobering.
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Lucas 11:55PM (8/02/2009)
The suicide ad made me LOL...loudly and hardily.
aj121489 1:03AM (8/03/2009)
The end was really depressing to me. I have thought about that a lot actually and it just saddens me to even think that it's a possibility that these cars could one day be a thing of the past. It doesn't matter that I can't afford them or even if I'll never see one in person, although I have been very fortunate with my supercar spotting, one of the many perks to living in South Florida ;)
Lucas 11:54PM (8/02/2009)
Admittedly, I have questionable taste but that Maloo is better looking to me than many exotics!
Maybe it's the 12 (32?) year old in me that thinks a "truck with a Ferrari engine and rockets" would make the best possible vehicle in the world.
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Protzenegger 12:27AM (8/03/2009)
I always really liked the VU Maloo. More than the new one, even.
http://www.speedywheels.com.au/images/showroom/maloo-r8-octane.jpg
Jim 12:01AM (8/03/2009)
And this is the car (G8) that GM is not bringing here anymore. Nice work GM (I am a G8 GT owner)
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Protzenegger 12:20AM (8/03/2009)
Technically we'd never get either of those even if GM kept Pontiac alive and brought us the sport truck. They're quite a step above the GXP.
Russell 1:26AM (8/03/2009)
if gm brought the basic models to the states then at least you could buy the parts from gm australia and they would probably be a quick bolt on...
jonwil2002 10:17PM (8/03/2009)
As a Holden fan, I can say that turning a stock Holden UTE into a Maloo is a lot more than just bolting on some body panels.
The HSV vehicles contain totally different engines (made by Chevrolet) to the normal Holden V8s. (which are also made by Chevrolet)
t_bracelin 12:06AM (8/03/2009)
anyone know where I can watch top gear in the US that isn't a torrent?
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aj121489 12:56AM (8/03/2009)
http://www.hessmo.com/k/Home.html
Steve 9:39AM (8/03/2009)
streetfire.net in the video section.
just type in top gear season 13 episode XX
cool_ozzyfromkalush 12:14AM (8/03/2009)
Is there going to be season 14...? because the ending of this episode gave me a very sad, and ominous feeling.
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