Commodore Sportwagon


HSV Maloo R8


HSV Clubsport R8 20th Anniversary Edition

I really, really want the wagon now.

 

I like the flying buttresses on the Maloo, but I hate how tall the bed cover is and those roadster-ish 'nacelles' look really out of place. Plus....I donut that thing is sporty enough to justify hardly any rear vision.

 

I only adore the wagon. The other two just don't do it for me style-wise.

 

That Maloo looks bad-***!

 

That wagon is hot. I'd love to have one. I also like the Ute, and personally I'd be interested to see a Ute with a back seat and smaller bed. Maybe something like the Subaru Baja (but better executed, and without all that gaudy cladding). OR, maybe a more cramped backseat that would still leave you room for a couple of kiddies or baby seats, at least.

Subaru Baja:



The Baja was based on the smaller-than-G8 Legacy, with only a 104.3 inch wb. It had a bed a very short bed (something the longer Ute could improve upon), but had a passthrough to the cab. Not a full midgate like the Avalanche, but still better than nothing.



With the longer overall length of the Ute, and the over-a-foot-longer wheelbase (118.5"), I think they could have at least some type of rear seat area (if not the full rear seats from the sedans) and still have a cargo bed of sorts. Maye even do a full midgate if it could be made light enough? Perhaps that would boost the appeal of the vehicle here in the U.S. After all, extended/crew cab pickups FAR outsell the 2 or 3 passenger regular cab versions here.

I'm tempted as it is by the thought of a Ute when it arrives, but the two seater only status hurts it a bit. I'm currently looking for a truck to add to the stable as a winter / rainy driver (wife has a sedan, plus I've got the two cars in the sig). From a size standpoint I'd prefer to have a regular cab or at most an extended cab with 6.5' box. I can find plenty of reg cabs for decent prices, but I keep thinking that I'll miss the convenience of having the back seat area (to throw groceries/small cargo, carry the occasional extra passengers, and down the line, carry a baby or two when it comes time for that).

A ute with a small back seat and a decent bed would kick ***, I think...

EDIT: Anyone with some photoshop skills want to make a 4 door (or "ext cab") Ute?

EDIT2: Found this. Not sure if it was a chop or a real product, but this one is clearly based on the last Ute (Commodore/GTO/etc.) platform, and it is clearly a longer wheelbase with what looks like a separate bed vs. the integrated body/bed.



EDIT3: Evidently that thing was real. Called the "Crewman" (when I read that, it came back to me). According to this guy, it definitely was not just a standard Ute with a back seat, but was in fact on a modified platform complete with leaf spring rear instead of the car suspension. Sounds like he is hoping for something like I'm discussing here...

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/s...&postcount=175

 

I've seen pictures of the backseat of the Crewman, and the seatbacks are completely upright, and there's not much legroom at all back there.. They don't look very comfortable.


Also, they are surprisingly slow, from what I can tell. From what I can tell, the regular V8 Crewman does 0-60 in about 8 seconds. That has to be wrong! (Does anyone have a other good test data?) Thats about as fast as an Avalanche. More disturbingly, the MPG doesn't seem to be much better than an Avalanche either.

 

Well, that's how extended cab pickups are, too. Still ok for small kids (or a child seat), or the occasional ride for adults (like taking the co-workers out to lunch and it's your turn to drive). I think the Baja had normal Legacy back seats (like the Avalanche has crew cab back seats, not the skimpy extended cab seats). Since the Ute is longer and on a considerably longer wheelbase, maybe they could squeeze in a reasonable seat and still have room for a 4.5' bed or so. That would depend much on the engine, transmission, and weight, of course. The previous crewman sounds like it had a much modified frame/unibody complete with rear leaf springs and a bed that was separate from the body (maybe a unibody front with frame rails spouting from the rear to hold the bed?). Something more like the Baja ought to be able to stay close to the Ute in size and weight. And clearly the Ute isn't slow with the 362 hp 6.0L. I think the fuel economy, while not econo-car territory, is still notably better than a full sizer like the Avalanche.

Probably doesn't matter 'cause the odds of it happening are pretty much nil, but a guy can dream, can't he?

 

As was reported on www.AutoBlog.com and www.Jalopnik.com and a bunch of several other "mainstream" websites.

Thanks, Fly.

 

Love the Commadore sportwagon. Would look great in Chevy, Pontiac or Saturn styling.
I've never been a ute or Maloo fan but I can see the facination.

 

Man , all the new Zeta's are so nice ...I detest the new HSV look though , its so out of place

Ive never liked wagons and will never will own one , but that Commodore sport wagon is sexy .....did I just say that .gasp

 

Those are pure sex......very, very nice

 

Not my cup of tea...

 

Any chance you can explain to an old fart what the heck that means? I see it on these boards all the time but I don't think it means what I think it means.

 

It means that the object you are referring to has so much sex appeal that it actually is sex, metaphorically speaking.

 

sportwagon = teh sex

right jg95z28?