If you have a cool $100,000 or so to spare and want to be the envy of pretty much every tradie on every jobsite around the country – at least, that’s how it looks to us – Holden Special Vehicles has created a hot-blooded, high-performance slice of Australian automotive history as a fitting send-off for Australian motor vehicle manufacturing.

Billed as the most powerful, advanced and expensive Aussie ute ever produced, the Maloo GTSR comes with a recommended retail price of $96,990 for the manual – automatic transmission adds $2500 – and features an uprated version of the supercharged 6.2L LSA V8 that now produces 435kW of power (+5kW) with the addition of a new high-flow air filter.

These figures are not quite as phenomenal as the GTSR W1 sedan that HSV has created, developing no less than 474kW with a variety of LS9 engine mods (and priced from $169,990), but the two-door Maloo still packs in plenty of W1 in terms of stopping power, aesthetics and personality.

The latter is aurally defined by a recalibrated bi-model exhaust system that opens up earlier in the rev range to deliver an unprecedented set of bass notes from the back of the brutish ute.

Sitting on 20” ‘SV Panorama’ forged alloy wheels which are nine inches wide at front, 10 inches wide at the rear and have a ‘Hyper Dark Stainless’ finish, the Maloo GTSR has a wider, lower-slung stance accentuated by new 12mm-wider front fenders with horizontal vents and an all-new front fascia that gives it a distinctive race-inspired look and serves to maximise air intake.

A bold front splitter also makes its presence felt, along with new daytime running lamps and, at the rear, a wider and lower diffuser and quad exhaust outlets.

Within those wheels sit AP Racing brakes comprising six-piston monobloc callipers and massive 410mm rotors at the front, complete with ‘S-vane’ cooling technology and large, lightweight Ferodo 4488 brake pads.

HSV describes it as a world-class braking package that takes the radical design to new heights, “delivering outstanding stopping power and brake modulation and an even firmer pedal feel”.

Inside, the GTSR Maloo has ‘HSV Podium’ seats finished in Alcantara with diamond-quilted stitching and leather bolsters, while red herringbone twin-needle highlights are used across the cabin. For a bit more cash, an Alcantara-wrapped, sports-profile steering wheel and gear selector can also be ordered.

Not ending the home-grown ute story with just the GTSR, HSV has also turned to the ‘regular’ Maloo R8 LSA and implemented sweeping changes as part of a ’30 Years’ series that marks three decades in business as Holden’s performance car division.

There is more power and torque (to 410kW/691Nm), a torque vectoring system is now fitted, the throater bi-model exhaust can also be heard here and a variety of styling tweaks complete the look.

The price of entry to the ’30 Years’ ute rises $3000 on Maloo R8 LSA, available from $79,990 plus on-road costs, but this will not be a deterrent for those who see it as the final run of something truly special.