UTEster
1 March 2001, at the Melbourne International Motor Show:
Holden unveiled a show-stunner, the unique UTEster sports coupe concept. As the name implies, it's a vivid evolution of the Holden Ute theme, created by young designers and loaded with urban cool.
Finished in bright Marque Yellow with contrasting Jet Black accents, the UTEster has a removable glass roof, a rear window that slides out of sight and a tonneau cover with twin aero forms that echo traditional sports car styling cues. Everything about the Holden UTEster, from its 19" alloy wheels five-spoke, in satin finish Titan Silver to its smoke tinted roof, split twin exhausts and custom-designed cabin,excites the eye.
Like the Sandman panel van that was such a crowd-puller at the 2000 Sydney Motor Show premiere, the UTEster began life as a series of sketches penned by a member of Holden's youthful and talented design team. Inspired by the Roadster and Speedster tags given to other sports-oriented GM models, senior designer Peter Hughes, who led the project, also gave the UTEster its unique name.
The UTEster's interior is equally as individual as the exterior. The bold black and yellow theme continues, repeated in the seat trim , Anthracite leather edged in yellow leather baseball stitching, the contoured yellow bulkhead wall, high-gloss centre console and door trims highlighted by yellow armrests and storage pockets.
The UTEster's instrument panel and steering wheel are finished in Anthracite leather and the controls and instrumentation feature satin finish Titan Silver detailing. Luxury custom-fitted extras include an Alpine entertainment system with DVD/VCD/CD, LCD monitor, remote control, 12" sub-woofer, eight additional speakers and flip-down storage between the seats. Brake, clutch and accelerator pedals are machined aluminium.
Practical matters are not forgotten. The high-gloss, body-coloured aero decklid is a split fold design, lockable and with remote release. The front section, finished in matching yellow, opens to accommodate the UTEster's removable glass roof, and the cargo bed takes a full-length load.
Powered by a 5.7 litre GEN III engine matched to 6-speed manual transmission, the UTEster, is an evolution of Holden's VU Ute SS
Features and specifications
Control and Handling
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5.7 litre GEN III V8 engine, producing 225 kW of power @ 5,200 rpm |
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6 speed manual transmission |
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4 wheel Harrop disc brakes |
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Anti-lock braking system (ABS) |
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Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) |
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Sports Tuned Suspension |
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Limited Slip Differential |
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Power Steering |
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Split Twin Exhaust System |
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Exterior
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Marque Yellow exterior with Jet Black and glass cockpit |
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19" alloy wheels and low profile tyres |
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Harrop brakes with jet black calipers, UTEster graphic |
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Exclusive Aztec charcoal headlamp treatment |
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Aero two piece decklid with roof storage bin |
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Unique rear facia |
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Race bred aluminium fuel filler |
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Sports front facia |
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Lower sports body kit |
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Foglamps |
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Power antenna |
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Interior
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Jet black interior theme with body colour flow-through |
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Black leather sports seats with yellow leather baseball stitching |
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Black leather instrument panel with high gloss facia and Titan silver accents |
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Black leather steering wheel |
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Unique UTEster instrumentation |
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Machined aluminium pedals |
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Alpine entertainment system with DVD/VCD/CD, LCD monitor, remote control, 12" sub woofer and 8 additional speakers |
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Body colour door inserts and rear bulkhead |
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Rear oddments bins |
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Flip down CD and DVD storage between the seats |
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Comfort/Convenience:
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Quick release seats for rear access |
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Power side and rear windows |
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Lift out glass roof |
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Steering wheel with height and reach adjust |
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Electric driver's seat height and tilt function. |
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Air conditioning |
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Cruise control |
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Headlamps auto off function |
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Rear window demister |
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Safety and Security
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Driver and passenger airbags |
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Pyrotechnic seat belt pre-tensioners |
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Anti-submarining seat ramps |
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Automatic collision engine shut down |
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Encoded remote key |
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Engine Immobiliser |
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Dual stage unlocking |
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Remote deadlocking |
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Remote decklid release |
