Item: 2004 Holden VZ Ute
Rating: 3

Responsive 3.6-litre V6 engines
Powerful 5.7-litre LS1 and 6.0-litre L76 V8 engines
Impressive ride/handling balance
Spacious and comfortable interior
Accurate steering provides good feedback

Alloytec V6 engines lack refinement
Thirsty V8 engines have peaky power delivery
Four-speed automatic transmission has clunky downshifts and lacks ratios
Outdated interior design and plastics
January ’06 to May ’07 Alloytec V6 petrol engines susceptible to stretched timing chains

Overview

Released in August 2004, the Holden VZ Ute was a single cab, rear-wheel drive utility. Manufactured in Elizabeth, South Australia, the VZ Ute was initially available with newly-introduced 3.6-litre V6 and continued 5.7-litre V8 petrol engines. As per the table below, the VZ Ute range initially consisted of standard, S and SS variants; in October 2006, the S variant was replaced by the SV6.

Engines: Alloytec V6, LS1 V8, L76 V8 and L98 V8

Of the engines,

The newly-introduced 3.6-litre ‘Alloytec’ LE0 V6 petrol engine had all-aluminium construction, a forged steel crankshaft, forged powdered metal connecting rods, twin knock control sensors, double overhead camshafts (DOHC), sequential electronic fuel injection, four valves per cylinder, continuously variable intake camshaft phasing, a compression ratio of 10.2:1 and coil-on-plug ignition. Impressively, ninety per cent of peak torque was available from 1630-5460 rpm. Due to the introduction of Euro III emissions standards in 2006, this engine was detuned, fitted with new fuel injectors and a new exhaust catalyst;
For SV6 variants, the high output ‘Alloytec 190’ LY7 version of this engine was further fitted with a dual stage intake manifold and continuously variable exhaust camshaft phasing;
The 5.7-litre LS1 pushrod V8 engine had all-aluminium construction, flat-topped pistons, two valves per cylinder, twin knock control sensors and a compression ratio of 10.1:1. For the VZ and WL ranges, the introduction of electronic throttle control and improvements to engine calibration, induction and the exhaust increased peak power to 250 kW;
For 2006, the 5.7-litre LS1 V8 was replaced with the 6.0-litre ‘Gen IV’ L76 V8 engine. The 6.0-litre L76 engine had similar properties to the LS1 but had a bigger bore (101.6 mm compared to 99 mm) and an increased compression ratio (10.4:1). Although the L76 engine was fitted with displacement on demand hardware, this technology was not utilised by Holden until 2009; and,
Released in March 2006, the SS Thunder variants were powered by 6.0-litre L98 engines which omitted the displacement on demand lifters. Compared to the L76 , the L98 engine had a higher compression ratio (10.4:1), a different camshaft profile and bigger sump.

Transmissions

The V6 engines were available with four-speed 4L60E automatic, five-speed 5L40E automatic and six-speed Aisin D173/AY6 manual transmissions. The LS1 V8 engines were available with the four-speed 4L60E automatic and six-speed Tremec T56 MM6 manual transmissions. For the VZ range, the four-speed 4L60E automatic transmissions were upgraded with new torque converters.

Upon its introduction in 2006, the L76 V8 engine was mated to the 4L65E automatic transmission which was revised with the addition of an input shaft speed sensor for improved shift quality and consistency. The T56 MM6 manual transmission continued to be offered, though it was fitted with the LS2’s revised clutch and pressure plates due to the engine’s increased torque.

Development and dimensions

The VZ Ute was developed in conjunction with the VZ and long wheelbase WL Statesman/Caprice models and introduced new brake boosters, brake master cylinders, power steering pumps and, for models with V6 engines, Bosch 8.0 ABS. Compared to the VY Ute , the VZ Ute could be identified by its ‘twin spear’ bonnet, new fascias, radiator grilles, larger air intake openings and more compact headlamp designs.

The VZ Ute was 5049 mm long, 1845 mm wide, 1484 mm tall and had a 2939 mm long wheelbase.

Suspension

The VZ Ute had MacPherson strut front suspension and independent rear suspension with semi-trailing arms and toe control links. For the VZ range, a new front anti-roll bar pick up point with ball-jointed mounts (previously rubber bushes) was introduced.

Holden VZ Ute specifications
Engine	Variant	Years	Trans.	Peak power	Peak torque
3.6-litre LE0 petrol V6	[Unnamed], S	2004-05	4sp auto, 6sp man.	175 kW at 6000 rpm	320 Nm at 2800 rpm
	[Unnamed]	2006-07	4sp auto, 6sp man.	172 kW at 6000 rpm	320 Nm at 2800 rpm
	S	2006	4sp auto, 6sp man.	172 kW at 6000 rpm	320 Nm at 2800 rpm
3.6-litre LY7 petrol V6	SV6	2006-07	5sp auto	190 kW at 6500 rpm	335 Nm at 3200 rpm
3.6-litre LY7 petrol V6	SV6	2006-07	6sp man.	187 kW at 6000 rpm	335 Nm at 3200 rpm
5.7-litre LS1 petrol V8	SS	2004-05	4sp auto, 6sp man.	250 kW at 5600 rpm	470 Nm at 4800 rpm
6.0-litre L76 petrol V8	SS	2006-07	4sp auto, 6sp man.	260 kW at 5600 rpm	510 Nm at 4400 rpm
6.0-litre L98 petrol V8	SS Thunder	2006-07	4sp auto, 6sp man.	270 kW at 5700 rpm	530 Nm at 4400 rpm

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the VZ Ute included a driver’s airbag and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.

The Ute S and SV6 added ABS, electronic brake force distribution and brake assist; the SS omitted electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, but was equipped with ABS and a front passenger airbag.

Brakes

The VZ Ute had 296 mm by 28 mm vented front brake discs with twin-piston calipers and 286 mm by 16 mm solid rear brake discs with single piston calipers.

Features

Standard features for the VZ Ute included 15-inch steel wheels, a four speaker sound system with CD player, a power adjustable driver’s seat, cruise control, steering wheel audio controls, automatic headlights, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, a tilt and reach adjustable steering wheel, trip computer, an alarm and immobiliser.

The Ute S was further equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, a limited slip differential, air conditioning, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power antenna and soft tonneau cover; beyond this, the SV6 added front fog lamps and a chrome exhaust tip.

The range-topping Ute SS was distinguished by its six-stack CD player, leather-wrapped gearshift and handbrake; from 2005, the SS also featured climate control air conditioning.

2005 Storm Ute

In April 2005, a limited-run Storm variant was released. Based on the S, the Storm added a passenger airbag, 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, a six-stack CD player, anthracite seat trim with leather bolsters, front fog lamps and a high mounted centre stop lamp.

2005 SSZ Ute

In September 2005, a Z edition of the SS was released; the SSZ featured 18-inch Monaro alloy wheels, leather seats with SSZ logos, performance braking package, a colour-coded hard tonneau cover with twin aero forms, a colour-coded SSZ instrument cluster and black centre-mounted oil and volt meters.

2006 S and SS Thunder Ute

In March 2006, Thunder editions of the S and SS variants were released; these Thunder editions featured 18-inch alloy wheels and a hard tonneau cover; S variants had Anthracite leather seats, while the SS had colour-coded leather seats. The SS Thunder was released again in October 2006; on this occasion, it was distinguished by its 18-inch Monaro CV8-R alloy wheels, leather-faced seats and door trim, twin aero form hard tonneau cover and red painted brake calipers.

2007 SVZ Ute

Released in May 2007, the limited-run SVZ was based on the SV6 but added 18-inch Monaro CV8-R alloy wheels, Onyx leather seats (and door trim) with SVZ logos embroidered on the seat faces and performance brakes with red painted brake calipers.

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