News has it there’s a chance, once again, that the legendary El Camino name could soon be resurrected. Mark Reuss, General Motors’ new president of GM North America, said recently that the Holden Ute VE might still be retooled and sold in the U.S. as an El Camino. 

The exciting news comes after GM cancelled plans to sell the Ute as a Pontiac G8 Sport truck in January, 2009. From PickupTrucks.com: 

“U.S.-specific development work, including engineering side airbags to meet federal safety standards, was carried out but the project was cancelled before a single ST made it into showrooms.” (1)

“Reuss said that, if anything, bringing a VE Ute and sedan to the U.S. was more compelling than it was the first time around given the cars now run upgraded V-6 engines, as well as a V-8."

“We didn’t have direct injection in these cars when we’re looking at this the first time,” he said.

“You have to look at this strategically and say, VE has got to be able to stand on its own on the world stage and I think now it is getting to be able to do that, from a fuel economy (perspective) and you will see mass come out of the car,” he said. (1)

With the auto industry being as it is, whether or not GM will actually drop the funds to redesign the Ute VE and import it to the states from their Australasia subsidiary remains to be seen. 

“It is too early to say what is definitely going to happen,” said GM Holden president, Alan Batey, “All I can say is that there is absolutely ongoing discussion as you heard from Mark. He sees possibilities, we have to wrestle those down in the next few months, find out what we can do and when we can do it and come out appropriately with the right product plan.” (1) 

For the full story, visit pickuptrucks.com (source 1). 


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Sources: 


(1) http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/01/gms-australian-ute-could-still-come-to-the-us-as-a-chevy-el-camino-reuss-says.html
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Ute
(3)Pictures: http://www.netcarshow.com

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