Holden VE hype

With only weeks before Holden pulls the covers off its VE ute the internet is buzzing with speculation about just how the tradesman's sports car will look. And it doesn't stop there. One particularly clever blogger with time and talent to burn on a computer graphics program has come up with a range of possible VE models that may not be too far off the mark.

Now circulating via email, the blogger's series of pictures reveal a new Monaro, hatch-back Commodore, utes, a sporty wagon and Crewman.

The computer generated images are not pinched from a secret file in the heart of the Holden design centre, but rather morphed out of official Holden press photographs from the launch of the VE Commodore last year. The images take plenty of licence with Holden's corporate design language but have enough reality to them to raise an eyebrow or two.

The Holden aficionado site LS1 has been running hot with comment on the CGI models, with most web chat centred around the proposed Monaro comeback styling and the sleek-looking sportswagon.

Reaction has been split about the look of the cars but the overall impression is that any Monaro would be a good Monaro and that the wagon should come with the mystery designer's low-riding sporty styling.

“Ooo, I like the wagon,” says LS1 poster belz-V8, while dazz5.7 takes the view: “Not much cargo area in the back of the wagon! Needs to be strrreeettccchhhed.”

The General “killed off” Monaro as a model with a much publicised auction of the last VZ car, but Holden management was evasive enough at the time to leave open the possibility of some type of future Monaro.

Holden will officially reveal its new ute, based on the VE Commodore, on August 22.

It is unlikely that the real-world ute will have the apparently-truncated load area evident in these artist's impressions.

It is also expected that as well as the standard ute shape, Holden will add the twin-cab Crewman to the line-up. And it is probable that a commercial range of one-tonne derivatives will also be on the market by next year.

While there has been no confirmation of a wagon model in the VE line-up, it has been a key player in Holden fleet sales in previous Commodores and speculation is running high that one will join the VE family early next year.

“With only a matter of weeks until the VE ute is officially revealed, it's very encouraging that there is already so much excitement ahead of its launch,” says Holden South Australia corporate affairs manager Andrea Matthews.

“There's certainly been a great deal of speculation about what it might look like, and all will be revealed soon enough.”

While Holden VE ute production is taking place at the Elizabeth plant, the only images of the new machine to emerge have been of heavily disguised vehicles.

“Beyond the ute, Holden has not confirmed any other VE derivatives,” Matthews says.