Holden SS Thunder, SV6 Utes storm Australia

Oct 13th 2006 at 1:29PM
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Those of you pining for a new El Camino, avert your eyes, as Holden has unveiled a new special edition SS Thunder Ute and a nice-looking SV6 model as well.

The SS Thunder II has the standard 6.0L 354-horse V8 underhood and also gets decked out with 18" rims lifted from one of the special edition Monaros, an aero tonneau, red painted brake calipers and leather seat and door trim. It comes in the full range of the new VE Commodore colors, but if you ask us, the black one in the attached photos looks plenty mean. Power goes to the ground via either a 4-speed auto or 6-speed manual, and the price of entry is $42,990 AUD (around $31,984 USD).

Joining the Thunder in showrooms is the new SV6 Ute, which has the same go-fast looks as the SS, but features the 3.6L Alloytec 190 V6 under the bonnet instead. This is a locally-built version of the new "high feature" V6 found in the Saturn Aura and it produces 190kw (255 hp), hence the name. With the new engine comes an available 5-speed automatic transmission. The SV6, like the Thunder, can be finished in all the VE paint colors. Pricing starts at $33,990 AUD ($25,288 USD) for the manual and $34,990 ($26,032 USD) for the automatic. In order to get the full 190kw of power, the automatic must be selected. The manual's peak power tops out at 187kw at a lower engine speed.

We just can't stop envisioning these things with bowties and ElCo badging...

(Photos, press release after the jump)

[Source: GM Holden]

PHOTO GALLERIES
Click images to enlarge

SS Thunder Ute:








SV6 Ute:


PRESS RELEASE:
The Thunder Of Holden's Special Edition Utes Rumble Again Into Showrooms

Holden has released a second special edition SS Thunder Ute, featuring more than $3,000 in extra value.

This new special edition model, available on SS Ute only, provides exceptional value by adding key extra features including:
  • 18-inch alloy wheels first used on the Monaro CV8-R special edition
  • Twin aero form hard tonneau cover
  • Red painted brake callipers with Holden logo on front brakes
  • Leather faced seat and door trim
All standard SS Ute exterior colours (including new VE colours Ignition, a chromatic red orange with fine mica gold highlight; and Nickel, a mechanical dark silver with coarse metallic highlight)

It features Holden's Gen 4 6.0-litre V8 engine which delivers 260kW of peak power at 5600rpm and 510Nm of peak torque at 4400rpm.*

New SS Thunder Ute Recommended Retail Pricing:

Six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions
From $42,990 (plus Dealer delivery and Government charges)

SS Thunder Ute production has commenced and is for private buyers only.

SV6 Ute

Holden has released the SV6 Ute (replacing S) with the High Output Alloytec V6 engine which produces peak power of 190kW at 6500rpm (automatic transmission) and peak power of 187kW at 6000rpm (manual transmission) and 335Nm of peak torque at 3200rpm.

SV6 Ute upgrades to a five-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous four-speed version in the S model. SV6 Ute is available in six exterior colours including the new VE hero colour Ignition.

SV6 Ute Recommended Retail Pricing:

Manual transmission – From $33,990 (plus Dealer delivery and Government charges).

Automatic transmission – From $34,990 (plus Dealer delivery and Government charges).

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