The Chevrolet Lumina Ute is by far the most outrageous car I have ever driven. Not only does it go really well, it makes you feel unstoppable, too. It demands respect and its burly stature ensures that you’ll never become a road rage statistic either. The word Ute is an Australian term for a coupé utility vehicle and is hugely popular in koala country. It’s a veritable muscle car and, with a massive 6-litre V8 push-rod engine powering its heavy chassis, it isn’t slow. It does go well in a straight line but the moment you start to put it through anything remotely resembling a corner, it grapples uncontrollably for traction. And, if caught unaware by the ferocity of its engine, you will most probably take out a street lamp with its side. However, there is a limited-slip differential and traction control system that together help the Lumina to transfer as much of its power onto the road as possible and keep it in a straight line. You’ll soon discover that you’ll need an educated right foot to drive it because if you mash the throttle pedal, you can expect enumerable visits to both the petrol station and tyre shop. But who buys a powerful Ute for its cornering prowess alone? You want something that possesses an adequate load capacity, practical functionality and enough power to excite your lady friend when overtaking 18-wheelers. At 5 meters long, the Ute is by no means small, but it is let down by an inept load capacity. It only carries a total of 622kg; meaning you’ll need to make countless trips when moving house or trundling to the dump. Chevrolet has promised more attention to quality which is evident throughout its cabin space. The perforated leather seats and door panels supply comfort and flexibility. And it comes packed with a host of safety features like ABS, EBD, ESP and collapsible steering wheel as well as airbags. The exterior styling of the Lumina is undeniably masculine. In profile it appears to be leaning forward – revealing a restrained beast. Its outlandish styling cues, low-slung façade and lowered ride height is finished off superbly, along with four exit pipes and the customary bow tie badge on its front and rear. This car goes like a rocket and what makes the experience even better is when the V8 screams out in reverberating splendour. The Ute sends forth an outrageous power surge of 270kW and 530Nm, guaranteeing a visceral driving experience. These figures help it breach the 100km/h fence in less than 6 seconds and reach a top speed of 240km/h. For those who yearn to own a muscle car, don’t miss out, as this might be the last time the Lumina (g)races our roads, given the current state of the global car industry. Starting from R413 700, the Lumina SS Ute is without a doubt a performance bargain.
Specifications
Price: R413 700
Engine: 6.0-litre V8
Power: 270kW/530Nm
0-100km/h: 6 seconds
Top speed: 240km/h
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