Holden Special Vehicles is trading on its high-performance pedigree with a new SportsCat RS special edition of its Holden Colorado-based ute, although the additions are mostly cosmetic.

Priced from $63,990 plus on-road costs, the RS-badged SportsCat sits $1,000 upstream of the entry Cat upon which it is based, but remains $5,000 adrift of the flagship SportsCat+ that carries a range of features now applied to the RS, such as a bonnet bulge and wheel-arch fender flares that accommodate black-painted 18×10” forged alloy wheels wrapped in 285/60 Cooper Zeon LTZ Pro Sports AT tyres.

Body colour is restricted to white, with contrasting details including gloss-black paintwork across the front fascia, and black and red decals on areas such as the bonnet, door sills and tub.

Other highlights of the package include a hard tonneau (with load-rail provision and quick-release mechanism) and sports bar, while front occupants are treated to Premium SV Sports bucket seats with leather and suede upholstery – a trim combination that adorns the instrument panel, too. Double stitching (in red) is also used on the seats and the leather-wrapped steering wheel, door trim and centre console cover.

As with the other HSV-tweaked SportsCat variants, the RS comes with a host of chassis modifications – targeting the suspension and brakes in particular – that aim to improve dynamic performance in both on-road and off-road situations. The AP Racing braking package on SportsCat+ – with front four-piston callipers, 362x32mm diameter discs and larger brake master cylinder – remains optional at $1,995. The other main option is a tub liner at $300.

The RS is available only with a six-speed automatic transmission and, as with the regular Colorado, uses a 2.8L four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that produces 147kW of power at 3,600rpm and a muscular 500Nm of torque at 2,000rpm.

The SportsCat is based on Holden’s Thai-built Colorado Z71, with its various modifications carried out at the Walkinshaw Automotive Group’s production facility in Melbourne, where Chevrolet Silverado and Ram pick-up trucks are also converted to right-hand drive (the latter on behalf of the Ateco Group’s Ram Trucks Australia business).