HOLDEN'S popular Commodore Ute has climbed another rung in the ladders of both performance and refinement with the release of the facelifted VZ line-up. With a 175kW/320Nm Alloytec V6 mated to a new six-speed manual as standard in Ute and Ute S, the even more stylish two-door load-lugger is no longer more show than go. Throw in a dramatically improved optional four-speed auto for both the new V6 and the flagship SS ute's upgraded 250kW/470Nm V8 and VZ Ute has all bases covered. Expect perhaps for the VZ sedan's five-speed auto, top-shelf Alloytec 190 engine and standard ABS.

Holden VY Commodore Ute
Released: October 2002
Ended: August 2004
Family Tree: Commodore uteDIRECT predecessor to the VZ Commodore Ute is the facelifted VY Ute launched in October 2002, which in turn replaced the facelifted VX Ute in October 2000. VX was the first facelift of the all-new VT Commodore that appeared in September 1997. Ute SS became powered by the current Chev-sourced 5.7-litre Gen III V8 from the VTII update in June 1999. That SS offered power and torque of 220kW/446Nm (up from the Aussie 5.0-litre V8 the VT SS launched with, which made 179kW/400Nm and 195kW/430Nm in HSV-tweaked form), while successive SS models increased to 225kW/460 (VX), 235kW/465Nm (VY) and 245kW/465Nm (VYII, August 2003).
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