Tougher regulations could open doors for Holden’s Commodore Ute in U.S.

Posted: Apr 30, 2011
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Pontiac G8 Sport Truck

Pontiac G8 Sport Truck was killed along with the brand

Yesteryear is filled with tons of tragic fads that we thank God came before our time. The most notable one for me, is the Chevrolet El Camino. The hideous love child of a Chevy pickup and a Chevy Caprice, the El Camino was an aesthetic nightmare.

Visually unfortunate for us though, is the fact that multiple contraptions designed off of the same concept could be a real possibility soon, if proposed CAFE regulations go into effect in 2017. The tougher emissions standards will force auto-makers to rethink the way in which they deliver the utility of a pickup vehicle.

GM North America president Mark Reuss, said that tougher regulations could open the door for the Commodore Ute to make its way over from Australia. Commodore is GM’s flagship brand in Australia, and the Ute is its equivalent to the Chevy El Camino.

”I’ve lived in Australia and I’ve seen where fuel prices are $5 a gallon,” Reuss said. “Lots of tradesmen will use a ute with a tray on the back to do lots of different things. They don’t need the bandwidth of a big pickup truck.”

-By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Automotive News


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  • Brennan R. Cook

    Greetings,
    The article would have been just as useful without the derogatory comments about the El Camino. Many people, myself included, find the El Camino to be an attractive, and extremely useful, vehicle. The facts regarding potential re-introduction of an El Camino – like vehicle are sufficient. Your opinion about a car’s appearance is not necessary.
    Brennan R. Cook

  • Matt

    Honda tried the same approach with the Ridgeline and look what it got them……a “Black Swan” Yes Honda has lost it mind/way in the end game. The #’s speak for themselves.

  • Gus the Grouter

    Stephen, ridiculous article. Extremely light on factual content. Form over function? Are you even a car enthusiast? How about you drive one before passing judgment? Better still why not see one in the flesh? Is it simply a case of not invented here syndrome?

    Whichever way it is research it a little, drive one and then make an informed comment rather than the drivel published. Of note, the rest of the world (it actually exists out side of the US) drives pickups that AREN’T 3 tons behemoths.

  • TonZ

    What a pathetic article, penned by someone who’s as lazy as he is fat!. How about you see one of these cars in the lflesh before you pass your myopic views on aesthetics. It’s little wonder the US is a laughing stock in design circles. GM’s best products are designed and produced overseas (Holden & Opel).
    Lift your game couch potato, our time is too valuable to waste reading dribble like yours.

  • TonZ

    What a pathetic article, penned by someone who’s as lazy as he is fat!. How about you see one of these cars in the lflesh before you pass your myopic views on aesthetics. It’s little wonder the US is a laughing stock in design circles. GM’s best products are designed and produced overseas (Holden & Opel).
    Lift your game couch potato, our time is too valuable to waste reading dribble like yours.

  • Clinton kerckhof

    Now look here. You seem to be one of the very few people that hate the El Camino. Let me ask you this. If it was such “hideous” car than tell me how come it sold? The El Camino was introduced in 1955 and it was manufactured until 1987. There were millions of these cars made and most of them are still running today. I can tell you why they sold, they sold because they were a great car/truck. Now when you take a high power truck motor and put it in a car body with long gears and a truck rear end you know what you get? An El Camino. I happen to have one of these ugly cars and i believe that nothing is better than it. they are comfertiable, powerful, fast, and you know what they last for a good amount of time.

    So let me tell you something Stephen don’t talk about something that you have no idea about. You may call it hideous but looks dont count after all look at the cars now days all they are is boxes on wheels. the El Camino was probably one of the best products that GM ever made. Thats why they want to bring it back not to screw with people but because it was such a great seller last time and they need help. Now before you reply to any of these comments or write another artical Stephen DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

  • Clinton kerckhof

    Now look here. You seem to be one of the very few people that hate the El Camino. Let me ask you this. If it was such “hideous” car than tell me how come it sold? The El Camino was introduced in 1955 and it was manufactured until 1987. There were millions of these cars made and most of them are still running today. I can tell you why they sold, they sold because they were a great car/truck. Now when you take a high power truck motor and put it in a car body with long gears and a truck rear end you know what you get? An El Camino. I happen to have one of these ugly cars and i believe that nothing is better than it. they are comfertiable, powerful, fast, and you know what they last for a good amount of time.

    So let me tell you something Stephen don’t talk about something that you have no idea about. You may call it hideous but looks dont count after all look at the cars now days all they are is boxes on wheels. the El Camino was probably one of the best products that GM ever made. Thats why they want to bring it back not to screw with people but because it was such a great seller last time and they need help. Now before you reply to any of these comments or write another artical Stephen DO YOUR HOMEWORK.