| Manufacturer | Holden Special Vehicles |
|---|---|
| Also called | Vauxhall Maloo VXR |
| Production | 1990–present |
| Assembly | Clayton, Victoria, Australia |
| Body style | 2-door coupe utility |
| Platform | FR GM Zeta platform |
| Related | Holden Ute |
The HSV Maloo is a performance coupe utility which has been produced by Holden Special Vehicles since October 1990. All versions of the Maloo have been based on the mainstream Holden Utes, but have featured high-performance V8 engines and body kits.[1] In June 2006, a regular production item Z-series Maloo R8 broke the record for the world's fastest production utility/pickup truck, at 271 km/h, (168 mph) beating the previous record holder, a Dodge Ram SRT-10 by 22 km/h.[2]
The name 'Maloo' is Aboriginal for 'thunder'. HSV's former Managing Director, John Crennan, coined the name for the vehicle from a book of Aboriginal place names.
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HSV Maloo models to date are:
The original HSV Maloo was the VG series, introduced in October 1990 and based on the VG Series Holden Utility. (The VG ute series resembled the VN sedan series in frontal appearance). The VG Maloo was powered by a 5.0 litre V8 engine producing 180 kW (241 hp). 132 examples were produced.[3]
The VP series Maloo was released in March 1992. Only 49 examples were made in the thirteen months of production, of which 15 were special HSV Fifth Anniversary Edition models, and the final eight were All-Black limited editions. These exclusive build quantities confirm the VP series to be the least production numbers Maloo ute of all.[3]
The VR series was introduced in August 1993 with new front sheetmetal and a reworked interior appearance. The 5.0 litre V8 engine was upgraded slightly to 185 kW (248 hp). 156 examples were produced.[3]
The facelifted VS series Maloo was released in April 1995. 173 examples were produced. It featured a 5.0 litre V8 engine still producing 185 kW (248 hp).[3]
The Series 2 version was introduced in June 1996 and carried through in its original form to August 1997, during which time 280 examples were produced. With HSV's introduction of the VT sedan range in September 1997, continued production of the VS Maloo thereafter was curiously referred to as VSII at VT Maloo, whereby a further 388 examples were produced through to December 1998. These later models included a special run of ten HSV 10th Anniversary Edition Maloo utes featuring an exclusive Anniversary Bronze paint colour.[3]
The next HSV update of the VS Maloo followed Holden's release of a VS Series 3 ute that, for the first time, included a V8 SS version. In 1999, HSV introduced an improved VSIII Maloo with a wiring upgrade to support the revised 195 kW (261 hp) V8 that had been introduced two years earlier with the original VT series HSV sedans. The VS Series 3 Maloo's legacy is to be the last HSV vehicle to be fitted with the 'original' Holden V8 engine.[3]
In September 2000, the long-lived VS series Maloo was finally replaced by an all-new VU series, based upon the existing VX series HSV sedans. The VU Maloo featured the same LS1 5.7 litre V8 engine as in the VX ClubSport with 255 kW (342 hp). Mirroring the sedan range, the HSV VU ute was now also available as Maloo R8, which featured standard 'Performance' brakes and a hard tonneau cover with raised rear wing. Overall, 301 examples were produced of the first series VU Maloo.[3]
HSV's VU Series 2 Maloo was introduced in October 2001 in concert with the VX Series 2 sedans, with minor cosmetic upgrades that included 'blackout' style headlights and additional Maloo range paint colours of Delft Blue and HSV Racing Green. This model upgrade also introduced new security measures in the form of 'HSV DNA', the micro 'DataDot' component identification system. Overall, 483 examples of VU Series 2 were produced, including in June 2002, 30 examples of a special HSV 15th Anniversary Edition Maloo ute.[3]
HSV's facelifted Y Series (as opposed to VY series in Holden terminology) was released in October 2002. The original Y Series Maloo retained the 5.7 litre LS1 engine from the VU, but power was increased to 260 kW (349 hp). Enhancements such as Climate Control air conditioning and the 'Performance' Brake System were made standard equipment on Maloo, with the 'Premium' Brake system now standard equipment on Maloo R8. New paint colours included Hothouse Green and Turbine Grey. 267 standard Maloo versions and 232 R8 models were produced in the original Y Series.[3]
Y Series 2 was released in October 2003 in concert with HSV's Coupe Series 3 range, with the LS1 5.7 litre V8's engine power now increased to 285 kW (382 hp). New paint colours for the Maloo range were Syracuse (gold) and HSV Ultra Violet. 312 standard Maloo versions and 361 R8 models were produced in Y Series 2.[3]
HSV's facelifted Z Series was introduced in October 2004 and featured a new LS2 6.0 litre V8 engine, producing 297 kW (398 hp). Along with the new engine exclusive to HSV, Z Series introduces 19" wheels, Traction Control and Multi-link rear suspension as standard equipment to the Maloo range.[3]
517 standard examples were produced, 958 R8 models, 181 Z2 models and 339 Z2 R8 models. In 2005, fifty examples of a special Devil Yellow Maloo 15th Anniversary Edition were released by HSV.[3]
The all-new E Series Maloo was a late arrival, released in October 2007, and only available as the Maloo R8. The Chevrolet Corvette-based 6 litre LS2 V8 was now tuned to deliver 307 kW (412 hp) and 550 N·m (410 lb·ft). Later 2008 and onwards models saw the power output rise to 317 kW (425 hp) with the adoption of a 6.2 litre LS3 V8 engine. Refinements on the E Series include Electronic Stability Control, five-star ANCAP rating, and linear control suspension.[3]
In August 2009, the facelifted E Series 2 was released which uses the same drivetrain as the W427 with an upgraded dual plate clutch not found on previous models. Late in the model run, HSV released a limited edition 'bargain' version named Maloo GXP, this vehicle being an amalgam of HSV and Pontiac G8/ST components.[3]
A mildly cosmetically altered E Series 3 was released in September 2010, and with it a special 20 years of Maloo edition limited to just 100 examples, featuring unique exterior equipment, including matte black 'Vector E' vents on the front guards and bonnet, 20-inch GTS alloy wheels, bi-modal exhaust system, Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA), and new hero colours, including 'Hazard' yellow. The interior of the 20th anniversary Maloo features special leather upholstery, satellite navigation, Enhanced Driver Interface (EDI), and a specific rear window decal and numbered build plate.[3]
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