- Fuel-efficient and responsive 3.8-litre L27 V6 engine
- Refined 5.0-litre V8 engine
- Spacious interior
- Comfortable ride
- V6 engine coarse above 3000 rpm
- Clunky downshifts for automatic transmission
- Poor standard of interior fit
Overview
Released in January 1992, the Holden VP Ute was a rear-wheel drive, single cab utility. Manufactured in Elizabeth, South Australia, the VP Ute was available with 3.8-litre V6 engine and 5.0-litre V8 engines that were mated to either five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions. Furthermore, the VP Ute was available in standard and S variants (see table below).
V6 and V8 Engines
The 3.8-litre V6 and 5.0-litre V8 petrol engines were carried over from the VG Ute . Of these,
- The 3.8-litre L27 pushrod V6 petrol engine had a cast iron block and cylinder head, multi-port fuel injection, two valves per cylinder, a single balance shaft, three coil-packs for ignition, a Delco electronic control module and a compression ratio of 8.5:1; and,
- The 5.0-litre LB9 pushrod V8 engine had a cast iron block, two valves per cylinder, multi-point fuel injection, a Delco electronic control module and a compression ratio of 8.4:1.
Transmissions: 4L60 and M78 T5
Both the V6 and V8 engines were available with four-speed 4L60 automatic and five-speed Borg Warner M78 T5 manual transmissions.
Dimensions and VG comparison
Compared to its VG Ute , dimensions were unchanged such that the VP Ute was 4903 mm long, 1780 mm wide, 1512 mm tall and had a 2821 mm long wheelbase; the maximum payload was 720 kg. Visually, the VP Ute could be identified by the grille covers, squarer front headlight indicators, revised tail-lights and more pronounced bumpers.
Suspension
The VP Ute had MacPherson strut front suspension and a live rear axle with five links and coil springs.
| Engine | Years | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ute | 3.8-litre L27 petrol V6 | 1992-93 | 5sp man., 4sp auto |
127 kW at 4800 rpm | 293 Nm at 3600 rpm |
| Ute S | 3.8-litre L27 petrol V6 | 1992-93 | 5sp man., 4sp auto |
127 kW at 4800 rpm | 293 Nm at 3600 rpm |
| 5.0-litre petrol V8 | 1992-93 | 5sp man., 4sp auto |
165 kW at 4400 rpm | 385 Nm at 3600 rpm |
Features
Standard features for the VP Ute included 14-inch steel wheels with 185/75 HR14 tyres, a two speaker sound system with a radio and cassette player, power mirrors, vinyl seat trim, a height adjustable driver’s seat and rubber cabin flooring. The Ute was also fitted with an anti-theft system which included automatic ignition disabling and key-activated deadlocks.
The Ute S was further equipped with 15-inch alloy wheels with 205/65 HR15 tyres and sports trim.
Related links
