GMC concept to break cover Monday

If you're a fan of beaut utes, make sure you're online Monday (Feb 4). That's the day details and pictures of a new Holden-designed light commercial concept are expected to be released.

Wearing GMC badges, the new ute will be the star of the General Motors pick-up focussed brand's stand at the Chicago Motor Show which opens to media next Wednesday, Feb 6.

The vehicle has been variously tipped to be anything from a lightly modified high-ride version of the existing VE Commodore ute to a bells and whistles dual-mode hybrid crew-cab all-wheel-drive pick-up.

The truth is probably something in the middle. Indeed, it's most likely the vehicle will be a four-door and that it will be powered by either a E85-fuelled displacement-on-demand (Active Fuel Management in GM speak) V8 petrol engine or, less likely, a near-production version of the 2.9-litre direct-injected turbodiesel V6 GM is developing in conjunction with Italian oiler specialist, VM Motori.

What is for certain is that the vehicle is based on the Commodore platform and it should not be confused with the Pontiac G8 ST -- the US market version of the Commodore Ute.

Though the GMC concept is essentially the handiwork of Holden's design and engineering teams Down Under its has been likened by US sources to a beefed up version of Honda's US-market Ridgeline (pictured).

Also for certain is this concept is not the much rumoured GM/Holden concept set to be unveiled at the Melbourne Motor Show later this month (more here). That, we believe, will be a very different beast...

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