HSV developing world's fastest ute

Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) is understood to be secretly working on the world's fastest production ute. The new model, expected to be christened the HSV GTS Maloo, has been in development for the last four years, as reported by News Ltd.

Fitted with the 6.2-litre supercharged V8 from the $96,900 GTS sedan – also used in Chevrolets in the US – the engine pumps out an astonishing 430kW/740Nm in the GTS sedan.

It's not clear how fast the new super ute could go, but the HSV Maloo R8 has held the ute world speed record for the last nine years, when in in 2006 former V8Supercar driver Mark Skaife belted out an average top speed of 271km/h over two runs.

Although it's not guaranteed to be the world's most powerful ute, the GTS Maloo has every chance of becoming the world's fastest ute because it will be much lighter than its US market pick-up truck counterparts.

The Australian muscle ute also sits lower to the ground than its American rivals, which gives it a distinct aerodynamic advantage, and is important for maintaining control past the 250km/h barrier.

The rumoured super ute will require several chassis upgrades to deal with the brutal power hike, and is likely to get the bigger, more potent brakes from the GTS sedan. It may also get upgraded suspension and bigger wheels and tyres are likely to be incorporated in order to cope with the extra twist.

The ute will easily blitz the 0-100km/h in under 5.0 seconds, and possibly go as low as 4.5 seconds. The best time motoring.com.au has managed in an HSV GTS was 4.6 seconds in 2013, so its entirely possible the ute could go slightly faster.

The  most powerful Holden ute at present is the Maloo R8 with 'SV Enhanced' kit (pictured), which is priced at around $70,000 and generates 340kW/570Nm.