Potential New El Camino?

[PerryLynch]

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=124048#6

"It seems GM is turning all Australian these days. It started in 2004 when the Australian-built Holden Monaro became the Pontiac GTO. Now the Holden Commodore SS is headed to America to become the 2008 Pontiac G8. There's yet another Holden on the way, as Pontiac has let us know that the ute version of the Commodore will become the division's own updated version of the Chevrolet El Camino.

Now that there are so many Holdens sneaking into the U.S., we thought you might like to know that there are some pretty fast Holdens to choose from. Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has been tuning, tweaking and turning Holdens into barbie-hot HSV models for 20 years. The Maloo is a hotter version of the Commodore-based ute, with a pumped and pimped body, engine, suspension and brakes."

And the official Holden web site: http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/vehicleentry?vehicleid=15

[John32070]

Neat. Rear visibility doesn't look to be good though. And from the looks of it it's rear wheel drive, so like the El Camino and El Rancho it won't go very good in snow unless someone wants to find someone with a front end loader clearing off a parking lot and have them dump a buckt full of snow in the back like I see some guys with pickups (and El Camino's) do.

[freddieB7]

Been waiting YEARS for something that could replace my dad's old 1984 Rampage. This is even better than I had hoped. hard part is going to be how to convince the rest of the family I should keep the RL and get one of these too. Only issue I have is the rear-wheel-drive, assuming it is....

[spun07RTX]

pretty damn sick!

I <3 caminos :D

[BigFoote]

I remember in the late 60's driving an El Camino with a 350 cubic inch engine. I couldn't keep it on the road when flooring the gas pedal. This truck looks even smaller. Unless all wheel drive, I wouldn't want it.

[PerryLynch]

Well reading the Edmunds description of how it handles, I'm certain it's RWD only. But a Corvette engine in an El Camino. Hmmmm...

I've never been a GM Fan, but Holden is a different animal: They've maintained significant design autonomy over the years, and some of the cars they've developed have been pretty amazing. I'd try one, but I'm NOT gonna give up the Ridge!

[Guzman]

i like it...

then again my friend from work says my truck looks like an "el camino on crack" and he also says the chevy silverado is like an "el camino on steroids"

lol..

[ChrisM]

That is one of the most impractical "trucks" I have ever seen. I bet it'll handle like crap in adverse weather and get terrible gas mileage. :rolleyes:

I'll take two! :o :D ;)

[BigFoote]

You are right. The only thing it's got going is the hourse power, and in a truck that small with RWD, you'd have trouble in dry weather.That is one of the most impractical "trucks" I have ever seen. I bet it'll handle like crap in adverse weather and get terrible gas mileage. :rolleyes:

I'll take two! :o :D ;)

[Lingered_I]

Here's a new video of what may end up in the US market:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBuQFtgz3Ac

[John32070]

I just don't like the looks of it. The El Camino and Ranchero may have also been based off of other cars in their co's lineup but they always had a look to them that didn't detract from either the car or truck part. This thing just looks odd. And yes, that is way too much power for what it is. Making it full time AWD would be a plus considering the power it has. Just today I saw one of the last year produced El Camino's and it still looked pretty sharp (though putting the brake lights in the bumper wasn't very smart).

[Tcape]

OK, I'm a diehard fan of vintage vehicles. And, even though I never cared for the El Camino (except the '55-57 models), this "truck" might just do well. People tend to want something different. Hey, didn't we think that about the Ridgeline?? So this truck might just do well. The El Camino was known as the "Cowboy Cadillac" here in the South. And lots of people still think they're a classic they'd pay high prices for. Not my taste at all, but for some folks, this will be the NEW El Camino, and they'll fork over the cash for it. Like people will for the new Dodge Challenger. To each his own. And God bless 'em. But my biggest concern, even though I'm a classic car guy, is that Pontiac's reliability has been horrendous. Look at the reliability ratings on the G6 and the Soltice. Both nice looking autos, but nobody in their right mind would buy one if they look at the reliability ratings. The Pontiac pickup could wel fill a niche that many folks are looking for. Again, not my taste, but lots of folks (El Camino lovers) will think it's their salvation. More power to 'em. I just hope they don't buy it thinking it's a long-term classic. Can you say Chevy SSR??

As for me, I'll stick with the best truck sold in America....the Honda Ridgeline.
Tom
Tom

[bfly]

The Aussies have loved utes like this for years. I have a friend in Melbourne who has one. He has entered it in drifting competitions for which it is well suited.

Not him but you get the idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr3jshjXPhk

[dk miller]

even though I never cared for the El Camino (except the '55-57 models),

Chevy's first El Camino was introduced in late 1958 as a 1959 model and was built on the sedan chassis.
Chevy did have a stylish version of their half ton pickup from '55 to '58 they called the Cameo. Maybe thats the one you remember.

This Holden seems to be a hot rod niche vehicle along the lines of the Ford Lightning.

[wrenrj1]

Won't happen. As the price of gas, food etc. goes up the masses won't support it. When will the big three realize that HP doesn't sell today?

[Jenskp]

I've been waiting for the ute to come to the states for a long time. My only problem is now that I can afford the beast I need a back seat so my son can enjoy a good powerslide.

Who says horsepower doesn't sell. Any car that sells well has big power. Look at the new accord ithas a lot of power. Unless it's a cheap car it's got a lot of power. Besides this is the new gen SB (LS2 or LS6 I think) it should get mid 20s mpg. It's only 3600 pounds and the bigger of the two motors they are talking about bringing here is 402hp. If you guys have ever seen the V8 Supercar racing you know those car handle well and that's what GM and Ford should've build, not these crap boxes they throw at us now. Holdens have a lot better interiors then the typical GM crap. I would just have to get over the Pontiac badge.