While the 2005 Melbourne Motor Show isn’t lined with utes, the team from Holden / HSV and Ford / FPV put on a show worth having a look at. 
The "new look' Australian V8 Ute Racing team won over the "sophistocated F1 spectators some of whom have never seen anything like it.
But Australia?s quintessential motor racing series, the V8 Utes, thrilled the masses in its first appearance at the Fosters Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne next week.
The spectacular Ford and Holden V8 Utes are among just four national categories who scored a prestigious invitation to join the support race program at the Albert Park event.
A field of 31 V8 Utes will contest three races sponsored by Cleanevent on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the grand prix meeting ? and the action was hot.
For all the results ...
Yesterday saw the launch of one of Victoria?s largest motoring events, the Melbourne Motor Show is in it?s 71 st year and while things will be different to the 1925 event, the exhibits and activities will be just as exciting. While there are no great new releases on the ute front, the Motor Show will be a spectacle for all.
When did you last drive your ute in the Antarctic?
No we're not kidding as the standard test for battery ratings is based on an environment just like that.
Another addition to the Holden range of utes is now available with the X6 One Tonner and X6 Crewman.
These new additions are the last of the 4WD?s from Holden in the ute range, and there won?t be a X8 One Tonner in the offering either.
Holden considers, following market research, that the buyers in this market will be happy with just an Alloytec V6 and so there won't be a X8 One Tonner.
You know the saying ... don't reinvent the wheel.
Well that saying was ignored by the company that developed the rubber tyre and wheel as we know it.
Watch out Michelin Man you're about to be deflated
The question we all ask when selling our ute is ... 'How much is it worth?'
Well this question is actually all wrong.
You have to add two questions and you get a different answer to each question.
"The Courier range now boasts six-cylinder power for the first time in its long history," Courier Brand Marketing Manager Damon Paull said.
Given this dramatic shift in the power pack for the Courier and Ford Vehicles in Australia the launch has been supprisingly low key
Whether it's summer or winter washing your ute on a regular basis is important.
Yes you want to get the ute clean but cleanliness is not directly proportional to the amount of water used.
With the overall market growing by 5% the ute is a top performer.
The competition really is tought with Holden just tipping Ford in the 4X2 segment and Toyota absolutely romped away with a massive 6% lead in the 4X4 segment.
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