utes.com.au

Here'sa great way to get some publicity. Grab a great Aussie icon, the HodenHSV Maloo ute,drive it to a venue that in English terms means a spear thrower (Woomera)combine that with one of the top V8 supercard drivers (MarkSkaife), supervisedby a highly recognised but low profile Aussie automotive field testing organisation (Test Trak), supportedby to known brands Mobil andYokahama andthe Deptof Defence and you have a recipe for a worldrecord beating success.

The all new Mitsubishi Triton will go on sale later in the year. The most important update to the Tritonline up is the introduction of the newly developed Euro 4 compliant 3.2 litreCommon Rail diesel engine. This will be in addition to the 3.5 Litre SOHC 24-valveelectronically injected petrol engine.

Inthe UK speed cameras are to be replaced at road works with devices that shamedrivers into slowing down by displaying their number plates on a roadsidescreen.

It appears that the poms are pretty good at killing and maiming road workers.Trials on the M42 near Birmingham found the devices were more effectivethan speed cameras at making drivers comply with the limit, even though nopenalties were issued.

Lots of factors come into play when it comes to buying a second hand ute .

• The first second and third factors are price
• The fourth, fifth and subsequent issues are brand

What about asking the question ... how safe is it?

So how well does your 1987 - 2004 ute rate in the crashability stakes?

Holden driver Grant Johnson turned up the blowtorch on his Ford rivals to win Round 4 of the Yokohama V8 Ute Series at Darwin's Hidden Valley over the weekend.

Johnson bounced back from a last round shocker to move back into 3rd in the championship, behind the Ford duo of Marcus Zukanovic and Jack Elsegood.

Australia's favourite ute  - the Holden Commodore - faces its toughest challenge ever when the all-new model goes on sale.

The Commodore may have been the biggest-selling ute since it was resurrected , but ute sales are facing the same downward trend as the wider motor vehicle market. The rising cost of petrol has recently been getting the blame but is not the only factor.

Before the all-new VE Commodore launches later in the year. Holden is coming up to with a number of value-added special edition models, which seem to be the flavour of the month with  many major car companies in Australia.

As the name suggests, Thunder makes its presence known from afar. With leather faced seats & trim, hard tonneau, unique Thunder badging, 18” alloy wheels on Utes and 17” alloy wheels on the Crewman, the Thunder range is sure to be a hit.

The V8 Supermodel search will run in premier entertainment venues in all states from May to September with the aim of finding Australia’s hottest sports models to be featured in the calendar.

Alan Nixon, Year of the Outback, Ford and Roadstar and HEMA Mapshave got together to promote the 2006 Year of the Outback.

In the last "Year of the Outback", one of The Uteman's charity projects, "the Pro Hart ute" raised a $55,000 donation for the Flying Doctors. The Ute was decorated with a painting by Pro Hart,

The Yokohama V8 Ute Series has a new kid on the block, 21 year old Gold Coaster, Matt Kingsley, will make his debut at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

Matt is no newcommer to the track as he is the 2005 champion of the Lotus Trophy Class B Championship, Kingsley will be a force to reckon with behind the wheel of the Ute.