The 576bhp Maloo GTS is here

Holden Special Vehicles, "Australia's leading performance car manufacturer", has announced details of a range-topping version of its Maloo pickup. It's called the GTS, and it's actually quite mad.

‘Good' mad, though, and an important bit of news, too. GM - who owns Holden - announced at the end of last year that it will stop building cars in Australia by the end of 2017.

So this Maloo GTS is the one of the last in a long, fine line of mad V8 utes from Aus. As such, it gets GM's 6.2-litre supercharged LSA V8 engine, producing a big fat 576bhp and 546lb ft of torque.

That s'charged V8 will be bolted onto the Maloo's VXR8-based chassis, driving either a six-speed manual gearbox or optional six-speed ‘heavy duty' auto ‘box, driving the rear wheels. No performance times have been presented, but the last Maloo VXR could sprint from 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds and rock on to a limited top speed of 155mph. So it'll be quick, then.

There are lightweight AP six-piston brake calipers and whopping 390mm discs up front and 372mm discs at the rear. There is torque vectoring. There are 20in forged alloy wheels and quad exhaust pipes. There is a new front fascia design.

And the best bit? Two colour options which are labelled ‘Some Like It Hot' (a bronze/red) or ‘Jungle Green'. That's green, we think.

Inside there are some HSV performance seats, leather trim, a head-up display and other such additions including the ‘enhanced driver interface' system which gives lots of performance data.

Just 250 Maloo GTS models will be built - 240 for Australia and ten for New Zealand - with production slated for early November.

Admit it: you want one in Jungle Green, don't you?