HSV Maloo Ute: Creating An 8-Cylinder Storm

Motoring Channel Staff - 11/December/2007

Melbourne, Australia — The word Maloo comes from an indigenous Australian word meaning storm, an apt name for one of HSV's fastest and most popular vehicles.

Based on Holden's much-improved VE Ute (see road tests here and here), the HSV Maloo takes the ute concept to the extreme. Just one look at it's exotic body work is enough to convince other drivers that this is no budget load lugger.

Priced at $59,990 for the 6-speed manual, the HSV Maloo Ute is powered by a 6.0-litre V8 engine outputting 307kW of power (400hp+) to the rear wheels. 

The HSV Maloo Ute's cabin gets a sports-luxury fit out with dual zone climate control, a 6.5-inch colour LCD screen, leather sports steering wheel, alloy pedals, HSV performance seats, a150 watt 6-disc CD stereo with five speakers, four airbags, electronic stability control, a vehicle alarm system and reverse parking sensors (leather seats are optional).

There's even a remote release on the key fob for the hard tonneau tray cover, allowing remote lockable access to the cargo tray.

The managing director of HSV, Scott Grant, said the Maloo R8 Ute had redefined the Australian Ute market: "Our team have done an outstanding job on producing a Maloo Ute like no other.

"Maloo's striking visual appearance, performance characteristics and range of luxury appointments will make this Ute just as comfortable and distinctive on a dirt track out the ‘back of Bourke’ or cruising around the inner city streets of Sydney, Melbourne or any number of provincial cities across Australia where the Maloo nameplate has taken the iconic Ute to the next level."

Apart from the crushingly powerful V8 drivetrain, one of the HSV Maloo Ute's biggest talking points is the new design.

As the photos show, the new HSV Maloo is one of the most daring designs in HSV's 20 year history. The front end styling is similar to other vehicles in the HSV range, with an aggressive triangular motif, but its the exotic side skirts that make the most visual impact with small inlets. 

The rear end of the HSV Maloo Ute is also new, and as designer Julian Quincey points out it gives the Maloo a show car look: "The HSV product group continually pushed the design of our E Series Maloo Ute to the limits and I am extremely pleased with the end result. It really does look like a show car for the road and it must rate as the sportiest production Ute the world has ever seen.

HSV says the Maloo's tough curves took  Design Manager Julian Quincey and his team over two years to perfect

"As an English born and bred designer it is an honour to work on such an ‘Aussie icon’ as the HSV Maloo and I believe the end result reflects my team's passion for the product," said Quincey.

Giving the Maloo Ute it's scintillating speed is a 6.0-litre V8 Chevrolet engine. Vital statistics are as follows:

Power: 307kW @ 6000rpm
Torque: 550Nm @ 4400rpm
0-100km/h: 5.5 seconds approx.

Similar to the engines used on other HSV's, such as the Grange, Clubsport and Senator (reviewed here, here and here), the Maloo Ute makes use of new tubular stainless steel 4 into 2 into 1 extractors and an HSV exclusive limited slip final drive ratio of 3.7 (3.27 in the auto). 

HSV's chief engineer, John Clark, quipped that the HSV Maloo Ute was a "coupe with a damn big boot!"

"We began working on the all new Maloo Ute at about the same stage as the E series sedan, with the aim of building on the dynamics of the sedan," Clark said.

"This Ute is HSV's most responsive ever and the comprehensive testing program we undertook around Australia and in New Zealand and Sweden, has resulted in the complete driving package."

Riding on significant 19-inch wheels shod with 245/40 front and wider 275/35 rear tyres, the HSV Maloo Ute looks good but also develops high levels of road traction. The suspension helps in this respect with fully independent front suspension of MacPherson struts, a direct acting stabiliser bar and progressive rate coil springs. 

The rear end suspension that deals with a serious 550Nm of torque is comprised of a Multi-Link independent rear suspension system, again with progressive rate coil springs and stabiliser bar to reduce body roll while cornering.

Another aspect of the chassis that has been carefully implemented is the brakes. According to HSV, "Monstrous front and rear brakes have been specifically designed to optimise stopping power and reduce braking distance. In dry conditions, a mere 36 metres is all the distance required to stop from a speed of 100km/h."

The front disc brakes measure 365mm x 32mm (ventilated and grooved) which are clamped by 4 piston AP Racing calipers finished in Holden Racing Team red with a silver logo. At the rear end are 350mm x 26mm ventilated and grooved discs brakes also covered by AP Racing 4 piston calipers. 

Priced from $59,990, HSV offers the Maloo Ute with a performance pack that adds even larger 20-inch alloy wheels and tyres, along with full leather seats.

Related Articles:
- HSV Grange (Road Test)
- HSV Senator vs. FPV Force6 (Road Test)
- HSV Clubsport R8 (Road Test)
- HSV E-Series - GTS, R8, Senator (2006)
- HSV SV6000 (2005)
- HSV GTSR (race car)
- HSV Coupé 4 (2005)
- HSV Z Series (2004)