Best ever Holden Concept cars

Colorado concept continues Holden tradition

At the 2011 Australian International Motor Show, Holden continued its tradition of debuting new and exciting concept vehicles. This time around, it was the turn of the Colorado to take centre stage. Treated to custom touches by the Port Melbourne-based Holden Design Studio, the concept presented at the show was a thinly-veiled preview of the next production version of the Colorado, which is due to go on sale in Australia early next year.

The Melbourne unveiling was the last in a three-step reveal for the Colorado, and came on the back of debuts in Bangkok (where the production Colorado will be built), and Buenos Aires. It should be noted, however, that the Colorado unveiled at Melbourne featured a lot of local input - led by Holden's Ben Last - and was notably different from the versions revealed overseas.

"The Colorado show car is the biggest and brightest star on the Holden stage this year," said Holden's Chairman and Managing Director, Mike Devereux, at the Motor Show unveiling.

"Although this is a show vehicle, the fundamental design and proportions are true to form for the production version of the Colorado hitting Holden showrooms next year," Devereux added.

"As a show truck it's designed to whet the appetite for another chapter in the Holden product renaissance - a series of new, world-class vehicles that are making people sit up and take notice of our new generation cars.

"And as our centrepiece for the Melbourne Show, it also demonstrates the capability of the Holden Design Studio, which is an industry leader in stunning global show vehicles."

The Colorado concept was certainly a standout in its deep red metallic paint, dubbed 'Red Rock' by the local design team. Reflecting the dual-purpose nature of a vehicle suitable for work and play, Last and his team worked to a brief of "refined ruggedness" which influenced the thinking around individual touches like a unique front fascia, bonnet, front guards and tailgate. Other unique parts included machined aluminium bumpers, side steps, side mirror attachment arms and rear step plates. The bold 6-spoke 20-inch wheels were also bespoke alloy items, wrapped in Cooper Zeon LTZ 285/50/R20 tyres. The concept also featured custom rear-view mirrors, a unique tonneau cover and custom-designed LED lights front and rear. LEDs were also used inside for interior accents, combined with a special 'electro luminescent film' to light the Colorado's graphics on the front and rear door appliqués. Holden Design's Colour and Trim team finished the sports-style seats in Rich Blue leather with grey suede trim and red stitching to pick up on the exterior. The dash was wrapped in the same blue leather, while the steering wheel and carpets were finished in dark pewter and steel tones, with the red stitching detail also carried through to the steering wheel.

The Colorado concept represented the first major public project for Ben Last, who worked closely with GM's design studio in Brazil, as well as in Thailand and the US, to develop the vehicle presented at the Motor Show in Melbourne. Last joined Holden as a co-op student in 2006, while completing a degree in Industrial Design from Monash University. After graduation, he joined Holden permanently, taking on the position of Creative Designer - Exteriors, a role that will cover a number of future GM projects.

The Colorado concept is the latest in a long line of show-stoppers that Holden has presented to motoring enthusiasts in the past. Here, we present JUST Cars' take on the top ten Holden concept cars to wow motor show visitors.

1.Holden EFIJY

Debuted at the Australian International Motor Show, Sydney, 2005.

Has there been a cooler Aussie concept car? We don't think so, hence its appearance at the top of our list! An all-modern homage to the classic FJ Holden, Efijy took the latest GM LS2 V8 and wrapped it in a radical, pillarless coupe body designed by GM-H's Richard Ferlazzo. What began as a sketch by Ferlazzo back in 1989 took more than 15 years to come to fruition. Ferlazzo described the finished result as "our accolade to the talented designers who cut loose with some fantastically flamboyant styling in the post-war 1940s and 1950s."

Like most Holden concept cars, Efijy was built as a fully drivable vehicle, so all the technology under its sleek body - courtesy of more than 20 component suppliers - could be demonstrated.

The Efijy's chassis was based on a Chevrolet Corvette, and like the Corvette, the Efijy also featured a fibreglass body. The deep, lustrous paint, dubbed "Soprano Purple" by the Efijy creation team, was a standout and took on a real crimson hue in certain types of light. Inside was a feast of cream-coloured leather and billet alloy, with maple timber veneer flooring. Other cool touches included remote door releases with proximity sensors (note the lack of exterior door handles), LCD screen and push-button transmission controls.

Under the bonnet, the Efijy featured the latest GM performance engine, a 6.0-lt V8 fed by a Roots-type supercharger to produce 480kW of power and 775Nm of torque, combined with a GM four-speed automatic transmission, and exiting through a custom-built 2.5 inch stainless steel exhaust.

As well as being an eye-catcher, Efijy was a big sucker too, at more than 5 metres long and close to 2 metres wide. Compare that with the 4.4 metre length and 1.7 metre width of the original FJ sedan. At 'display' height on its airbag suspension, Efijy sat a full 30 cm lower than a standard FJ, too. Reflecting its modern hotrod styling, the Efijy's wheels were equally massive - 20 inch at the front and 22 inch at the rear.

Certainly one of the most popular of Holden's concepts, the Efijy continues to impress today.

2.Holden Hurricane

Debuted at the Melbourne Motor Show, 1969.

"Tomorrow's Holden?" asked the brochure that accompanied the Hurricane's Motor Show unveiling. As it turned out, it wasn't the Holden for tomorrow, or next year, or the next decade for that matter. But the Hurricane was a genuine showcase of not just Holden's, but also Australia's design and engineering abilities.

A product of Holden's Research and Development Centre, the Hurricane was intended primarily as a "dream car", closer in spirit to the Efijy than most other Holden concepts. Looking nothing like anything Holden had produced before, the Hurricane featured a wedge-shaped aerodynamic fibreglass body that sat just 40 inches high. Underneath the swooping lines was a mid-mounted V8 engine, rear transaxle and seating for two. Designed to showcase the as yet unreleased Australian-designed 253ci V8, delays with that engine meant early images actually showed the Hurricane with a 307ci Chev V8. Innovative oil-cooled front disc brakes were claimed to be fade-free, while the foam-filled fuel tank was a safety feature backed up by a fire-warning system and fireproof bulkhead between the cockpit and mid-mounted engine.

Entry was via a large tilt-forward canopy that removed the need for doors. Cleverly, the steering wheel tilted forward with the canopy, and the seats also rose and pivoted forward to improve access. Inside, technology abounded, in the form of full digital instrumentation, automatic climate control air conditioning and "Pathfinder" an analog form of GPS that used magnetic signals from roadside senders and an electronic tape in the car to provide "the optimum route to any destination". Instead of a rear-view mirror, the Hurricane featured a rear-facing camera with console-mounted closed circuit TV. More down-to-earth features included adjustable pedals, reversing lamps, retractable headlights and a full complement of driver warning lights.

A true cutting-edge concept when it debuted, it's remarkable to consider just how many of the Hurricane's features that were science fiction back in '69 are a normal part of the vehicles we drive today.

3.Holden 'Coupe Concept'

Debuted at the Sydney International Motor Show, 1998.

Revheads love their two-doors. So it follows that Holden revheads love their Monaros. A little over twenty years after the last Monaro coupe - the HX 'LE' - bowed out, Holden fans clamouring for the return of a full-size performance 2-door got their wish when Holden unveiled the 'Coupe Concept' at the 1998 Sydney International Motor Show.

Built around the then current VT Commodore, the Coupe Concept was a success largely due to its attractive blend of two-door styling on the existing Commodore platform. While past attempts to make a two-door Commodore were awkward, the design by GM-H's Mike Simcoe looked 'right'. Visitors to that year's Sydney Motor Show obviously agreed, as Holden were bombarded with requests - bordering on demands! - to make the concept a production reality.

Like most of Holden's concepts, the Coupe Concept was no mere rolling design study, but a fully operational vehicle. While the Commodore origins were obvious, what wasn't apparent on first viewing was how much the Coupe Concept differed from the sedan. Aside from the longer door and increased side glass area, the concept also featured a sharper rake to the front glass and roofline, more deeply-accentuated body panels, shorter boot area, and a stance markedly lower than a comparable Commodore, although the wheelbase was the same.

As a 'present' to mark Holden's 50th Anniversary, the Coupe Concept was ideal, and it was largely due to its reception at the Sydney show that GM-H, less than six months after its debut, committed to making the concept a reality - as the Monaro. The fact it used existing GM-H mechanicals (production versions were based on the VX Commodore) made the transition from concept to production easier, but even that was achieved in super-quick time, a mere 22 months.

In 2004, a convertible version of the Coupe Concept, nicknamed "Marilyn", followed, but unlike the 1998 showcar, the convertible coupe concept never reached production.

4. Holden ECOmmodore

Debuted at the Melbourne International Motor Show, 2000.

It may not have looked too special from the outside, but under the skin the ECOmmodore was arguably the most high-tech, forward-thinking Holden produced to that point in time.

Developed jointly between Holden, the CSIRO and 26 other Australian component suppliers, the ECOmmodore combined the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine used in Holden's Vectra with a 50kW electric motor charged by lead-acid batteries backed up by super-capacitors. The hybrid powerplant was consciously created using available technologies from the outset, to demonstrate that the idea of a hybrid car could also be practical.

The petrol-electric engine made power comparable to a regular Commodore petrol V6, but with fewer emissions and far greater economy, plus a claimed 800km range without refilling/recharging. Other differences from a stock Commodore included front wheel drive, improved aerodynamic styling, regenerative braking and special low rolling resistance Dunlop tyres.

While it looked largely stock, the body actually featured a comprehensive redesign in the form of a lowered roofline, longer wheelbase and reshaped tail that helped reduce the drag coefficient figure to a claimed 0.28, a seriously impressive figure in its own right, even more so compared to the 0.32 drag coefficient for a stock VT Commodore. Inside, there were a number of lighter weight components to counteract the additional weight of the electric motor's lead-acid batteries. These included plastic windows, lightweight seats and an aluminium floorpan.

Holden estimated they spent $200,000 developing the petrol-electric hybrid technology and building the prototype. For their part, the CSIRO estimated that including the petrol-electric hybrid technology they co-developed would add only around $2000 to a regular Commodore's showroom price.

Following its Motor Show appearance, the ECOmmodore was used for part of the Olympic torch relay, including an electric-only run 70 km run from Uluru, followed by VIP chauffeuring duty during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The following year, it was sent to various trade shows around the world to showcase Australian engineering, design and technology.

5. Holden Torana GTR-X

Debuted at the Sydney International Motor Show, 1970.

If the Hurricane was the Holden that would never be, then the GTR-X Torana was the Holden that so very nearly was. Unlike the Hurricane, the GTR-X was seen as a production-ready vehicle from the outset, so it was styled and engineered accordingly.

Work started on the GTR-X around the same time as the Hurricane project was shelved. The design carried some of the same elements, in the form of a two seater layout and hideaway headlights, but the rest of the body was all-new, its sleek design reflecting that of popular sportscars of the era. The front end featured a sharply-pointed nose that flowed back to a steeply-raked windscreen, while the fastback-style rear featured a bobbed tail and 'boomerang' tail lights. The lines were exceptionally clean, with minimal garnish and ornamentation. Both front and rear bumpers were minimal, while identification was limited to small 'lion and stone' Holden badges front and rear, with a subtle 'GTR-X' decal and striping on the lower sills.

A steel-reinforced fibreglass body, like that of Chevrolet's Corvette, was envisaged from the outset, reducing weight and allowing more 'oomph' from the planned XU1-derived triple-carb 186ci six-cylinder engine. Holden's expertise with fibreglass was limited, so outsourcing the GTR-X's body construction was planned. Running gear and suspension was essentially the same as the production XU-1 Torana, but the design had provision for a V8 engine. Production versions were also to feature four wheel disc brakes, a first for an Australian-made car.

Inside, the GTR-X was largely conventional, with a deep, full length console, engine turned dash trim, full gauge package and sports steering wheel that some felt was inspired by Pontiac's Firebird.

By 1971, the project had progressed to the point where Holden had commenced tooling and scheduled a release date, but second thoughts over the viability of the GTR-X in the marketplace led to the project being abandoned at the eleventh hour.

Still an impressive-looking vehicle today, the GTR-X remains one of the great "what ifs?" of Australian motoring history.

6. Holden Mambo Sandman panelvan

Debuted at the Sydney International Motor Show, 2000.

If there's a vehicle that's more infamous than famous, it would have to be the Sandman. It attracted attention - for all the wrong reasons - in the 'seventies, but was nevertheless an iconic part of Aussie motoring history. When the Monaro was revived on the eve of the new Millennium, it seemed natural for the Sandman to follow, which it did at the Sydney Motor Show in 2000.

The reboot of the Sandman became a collaboration between Holden and streetwear/surfwear brand, Mambo, but had its roots in a sketch by Andrew Smith, one of Holden's young designers, in 1997. From that sketch, the idea of new Sandman stagnated until Mambo was invited to be a part of the project.

Based on a stock VU ute, the Sandman concept featured a unique canopy to mimic the panel van look, topped by a special Mambo surfboard, but it was the riot of colour and bold graphics that drew the most attention. Dubbed "Burnin' Love", the paint featured a vibrant mix of red, orange and tangerine in a very Mambo-esque take on the classic hot rod flamed paintjob. A similarly modern take on the signature Sandman tailgate graphic was rendered in the same colours, while those essential panel van accessories - side murals - were copied off original paintings by Mambo art director, David McKay. Inside, the "Burnin' Love" themed continued with flame appliquéd seats in red leather, tangerine suede and orange velour, produced by Paratus Industries to the Mambo/Holden design. The flame treatment also extended to the instrument cluster, dubbed 'bushfire alert'. In the back, a 'chill out zone' featured freeform seating, surround-sound theatre system and more flame motifs in the ceiling lights. Car Shine supplied the 19 inch Lorinser wheels, tyres and brakes that featured the Mambo logo milled onto the calipers.

Today, the Sandman remains one of the most popular of Holden's modern concept cars.

7.Holden UTEster

Debuted at the Melbourne International Motor Show, 2001

Few things are more iconically Australian than a ute. By the arrival of the new Millenium, the ute had evolved from a tool for the farmer and working man into a leisure and performance vehicle. Based around a VX Commodore SS ute, the UTEster concept acknowledged the ute's expanded role as an inner city lifestyle vehicle, and was described as being loaded with "urban cool". GM-H's Peter Hughes was the project's senior designer, and came up with the 'UTEster' name, but much of the work was done by Holden's young design team.

As the name suggested, the UTEster's most notable feature was its removable top and rear glass panels, which created the open 'roadster' effect. The smoked glass top stowed in a special compartment in the hard tonneau cover's leading edge, while the rear windscreen slid down into the body. The tonneau itself featured twin 'aero humps' reminiscent of classic sportscars.

Distinctive 'Marque Yellow' paint was accented by Jet Black grille inserts, rear valance panel, mirrors and windscreen surround. Car Tech did the paint and supplied 19 inch ATP wheels and Harrop brakes with the 'UTEster' logo embossed onto the calipers. Inside, bold yellow and anthracite leather seats featured distinctive 'baseball-style' thick stitching.

A full entertainment package graced the UTEster's interior. The Alpine DVD/VCD/CD and LCD monitors could be operated by remote control and were joined by 12 inch subwoofers and no fewer than eight other speakers! The same anthracite leather used for the seats wrapped the instrument panel and steering wheel, with the instruments themselves finished in 'Titan Silver' paint. Pedals were machined aluminium.

Holden believed the concept would become a production reality. However, the cost to manufacture in volume, while meeting the safety standards such a vehicle demanded, saw the idea shelved in late 2002. Some of the UTEster's ideas did live on, though. The hard tonneau with its twin aero humps graced the 'SSZ' limited edition ute from 2005, and were also believed to have inspired the removable tonneau used on 2003's 'Cross8' Crewman ute.

8. Holden Torana TT36

Debuted at the Sydney International Motor Show, 2004.

A hot hatch in hot pink, there was no mistaking the Torana TT36 when it made its Motor Show debut in 2004. There's no doubt that applying the iconic 'Torana' badge to the concept turned heads, too. However, the TT36 was more a showcase of features for the upcoming VE Commodore range than the revival of the Torana many enthusiasts had hoped for.

The TT36 name came from the concept's Twin Turbo 3.6 litre V6 powerplant. A hand-built, experimental development of the Alloytec V6, the engine boasted 280kW of power and 480Nm of torque.

Bodywise, a distinguishing feature of the TT36 was its panoramic glass roof that ran from the windscreen to the rear hatch, but the colour was the real talking point. Holden stylists showed they had a sense of humour by naming the bright pink exterior 'ManGenta'!

"The Torana TT36 may be simply for show, but it's not about outrageous technology," said Tony Stolfo, Holden's Design Director.

"We consider that something very close to this concept could be practically achievable in the not-too-distant future."

What was close to the TT36 concept were styling features of the upcoming VE Commodore, in the form of a "front wheels forward" look with minimal overhang, high waistline and high rear deck. Grille openings, front apertures and other details also previewed the future Commodore.

Like the SSX concept from 2002, the TT36 was a 2+2 four-seater and carried some similar ideas, like rear storage bins and dual high-mount fuel fillers. The interior, dubbed "Nu Luxury", was predominately white with black accents. The seats, steering wheel, console and door trims were trimmed in white leather, matched to an all-white dash, gloss black details in the lower sections of the cabin and black 'Rubco' floor covering. The exterior colour was continued inside via pink LED lights in the roof, footwells and arm rests, with the same colour used as accents on the bespoke gauges.

Much of the technology featured with the TT36 went on to be developed further with GM's US brands, while the twin turbo Alloytec V6 was being rumoured as an inclusion in the Commodore lineup as late as 2010.

9. Holden SSX

Debuted at the Sydney International Motor Show, 2002.

What do you get when you combine hatchback practicality with V8 power and all wheel drive grip? In 2002, you got the 'SSX', Holden's take on adding more practicality, tractability and performance to their long-running Commodore sedan.

A creation of Holden's Max Wolff, Warrack Leach and Kirsty Lindsay, the concept was seen as a way of extending the Commodore's range into the AWD market - combining 'SS' style and performance with 'Crossover' capability, hence the SSX name.

From the outside, the only pointers to the SSX's difference from a regular VY Commodore SS were the wider front and rear track, wheelarch flares, custom grille and modified spoilers. It was at the back where things got interesting. The bootlid was gone, replaced by a hatch roof mated to a small, separate tailgate. Both were so neatly incorporated into the existing Commodore design, they didn't look out of place. Same went for the fuel filler, which was moved up into the c-pillar and duplicated on the opposite side.

With the hatch/tailgate open, there was a broad expanse of storage space, trimmed in matt black anthracite vinyl with stainless steel wear strips. Storage bins were incorporated into both sides, made a little deeper by the track extension, although there was no mention of where the spare wheel went! The interior featured a full-length console, creating a 2+2 seating arrangement. The rear sports seats folded to the same level as the cargo floor area, creating even more space - 1.5 x 1.0 x .65 metres. 'Menace Black' nappa leather was used throughout, with stainless steel and matt silver accents throughout, as per the cargo area.

So, did a hatchback add to the Commodore's appeal? No, if the response to this concept was anything to go by. While the innovation in the all-wheel-drive platform and rear hatch treatment couldn't be denied, the SSX arguably didn't offer enough 'difference' over a regular Commodore to stand out in the way that 1998's 'Coupe Concept' had.

10. Holden Coupe 60

Debuted at the Melbourne Motor Show, 2008.

Holden's Diamond Anniversary present, the 'Coupe 60' was a bigger, bolder and altogether brawnier take on the 'Coupe Concept' that appeared a decade earlier. Like the Coupe Concept, the Coupe 60 was based on the current generation Commodore, but featured some unique styling and appearance features and was more of a racetrack-inspired beast than its predecessor.

Chief amongst the Coupe 60's unique features was the pillarless hardtop body. With all windows down, the 'open' look to the Coupe 60 when seen in profile was quite distinctive. The body itself was 60mm shorter than a VE Commodore sedan, with a lower roofline and deeper front spoilers and side skirts. V8 Supercar-inspired features included a full-length flat underbody, rear air diffuser, functional rear spoiler and centre-lock 21 inch alloy wheels. Those wheels were wrapped in specially-developed Kumho high-performance semi-slick tyres. Other features included unique LED tail lights, side-exit exhausts with distinctive square billet alloy tips, and a one-off 'Diamond Silver' paint finish that gave a polished, almost liquid metal look to the Coupe 60 body.

Inside, the race theme was continued with a V8 Supercar-style cockpit layout comprising carbon fibre bucket seats with four-point race harnesses (for both front AND rear seats!), flat-bottomed steering wheel with integrated shift light display and an LCD sports instrument cluster mounted on the steering column. Carbon fibre was also used on the doors and rear, contrasting with the black leather and suede used throughout the rest of the cabin. As a break from the blacker-than-Metallica interior, subtle 'high shine' red leather was used to detail the seats and gear shifter.

Like past Holden concepts, the Coupe 60 was a running vehicle, powered by a 6.0lt V8 with Holden's latest active fuel management and E85 ethanol-capable technologies, matched to an SS Commodore-derived 6-speed manual transmission.

Hopes that the Coupe 60 concept would lead to a second revival of the Monaro (2008 marked the 40th Anniversary of the first Monaro) were dashed in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, but Holden coupe fans are no doubt still hoping the Coupe 60 may become a production reality sometime in the future.

While this list covers some of JUST CARS' favourite Holden concepts, there are plenty more that could have been contenders, like the 'SST' stepside ute, HRT 427, Ewe't concept from the 1970s, 'Jack 8' Jackaroo roadster, 'Redback' Combo van, as well as the 'Old Man Emu' HQ Monaro 350/Z and '308Q' HQ Kingswood from the 1970s. You could also throw the Monaro-based 'HAL' concept from 2009 and Holden/HDT 'Monza' coupe into the mix, and there's probably a few others we've missed, too.

If you saw or photographed these or any other Holden concepts at past Motor Shows, share them with us by emailing [email protected] with your memories and pictures.

Most of the concepts featured in this article are on display at 'HQ191', Holden's Melbourne headquarters at 191 Salmon Street, Port Melbourne, Victoria. Others are on rotating display at various motoring and science museums around the country. More details on these and other Holden concepts are featured at www.holden.com.au/concept-cars

Our thanks to Holden Media for images and information used in this article.