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REV UP - Pulling power
By CPL Andrew Hetherington
Volume 49, No. 16, September 06, 2007 |
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Power to attract: One of three HSV Maloo R8 utes that Defence Force Recruiting has added to its stable.
Photos by Andrew Hetherington |
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I remember the days when Defence Force Recruiting (DFR) used to arrive at my school or at shopping centres in a station wagon or truck with a fold-out canopy.
Times have changed and recruiting methods have hotted up in a big way. DFR has added three black, modified HSV Holden Maloo utes to its recruiting arsenal. The DFR vehicles are managed by Local Area Marketing and the company has added to the stock-standard six-litre, 297kW beasts an enclosed back canopy, a rear-mounted drop-down LCD TV, a sound system with large speakers, a sub-woofer, and customised the paintwork with DFR logos and stickers.
This is not your ordinary transport for a tradesman or a DFR representative. Earlier in the year at Woomera, SA, V8 Super Car
driver Mark Skaife drove one to a top speed of 271.44 km/h. This entered it into the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest production pick-up/utility vehicle in the world.
To drive the DFR Maloo is an experience to be remembered.
Sliding behind the leather steering wheel into the figure-hugging sports seat, at first you feel like you are sitting in a HSV sedan.
Only when you look in the rear-vision mirror and depress the accelerator with excited vigour do you notice the lack of weight in the rear end, and this confirms you are indeed in a ute.
The interior is well-designed, laid out and made from quality materials. The centre console features silver trim, a six-disc in-dash CD player and climate control.
Performance from the 6.0-litre Gen 4 is astonishing, with 530Nm of torque providing enough thrust to take you to 100km/h in a claimed time of 5.2 seconds.
The exhaust is another highlight of the drive, roaring out a throaty deep growl to cabin occupants and pedestrians that this is indeed a HSV performance vehicle.
The six-speed gearbox is easy to shift and fun to use, allowing drivers to control the beast with sports car precision and enabling full utilisation of engine revs.
Suspension and handling is also impressive, allowing for accurate cornering while occasionally giving off a harsh ride.
| QUICK SPIN |
Power: 297kW of power and 530Nm of torque from a 6.0-litre Gen 4, LS 2 V8 engine with aluminium block and heads.
0/100 km/h: 5.2 secs (claimed).
Fuel consumption and type: Combined 14.8-litre per 100km, RON 95 P/ULP, 75-litre tank.
CO2 emissions: 353 grams/km.
Safety: Dual airbags, ABS, with BA and EBD and traction control.
Who it would suit: Someone who wants the carrying capacity of a ute and performance of a sports car.
For: Brutal acceleration, precise handling, amazing pulling power to attract the opposite sex and potential ADF recruits, and a raucous exhaust note.
Against: Only seats two people, you will want to take more than one person with you. The insurance cost.
Insurance: 12-month comprehensive insurance for a 25-year-old male living in Sydney is $5,700. |
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