How Holden could have beaten the Ford Ranger Raptor: The real story behind the HSV super ute that never was

The real story behind the monstrous Walkinshaw 550 version of the Holden Colorado has been revealed, with the super ute originally designed as the vehicle that would finally take down the Ford Ranger Raptor, only for Holden to close up shop as the finishing touches were being made.

CarsGuide understands the performance ute project, now officially known as the Walkinshaw 550, was originally conceived as the MY21 HSV SportsCat, with the brand targeting the most powerful outputs obtained by a four-cylinder diesel engine in Australia.

While the brand was shooting for the stars, there was really one vehicle in its sights - the Ford Ranger Raptor, which has taken Australia by storm. Holden didn't have a ute product that could compete - as far as outputs - and the MY21 SportsCat was going to be the vehicle that changed that.

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But just as the project was about to be signed off, Holden made the decision to leave Australia entirely in 2020, effectively shuttering the brand name, and taking HSV - or it's name, at least - with it.

Instead, Walkinshaw - the engineering outfit behind HSV - is now offering the upgrades as a performance pack that can be fitted to examples of the Holden Colorado built between 2018 and 2020 .

It's yours for $13,990, with the Walkinshaw Performance Diesel Power Pack adding the Walkinshaw Performance Engine Calibration and High Flow Air Filter (all of which is covered by a three-year, 100,000-kilometre warranty).

You also get new and blacked-out 18-inch wheels and tyres, a suspension lift kit, new body styling (flared wheel arches, side steps, decals, front fascia and grille, bonnet scoops), as well as new front recovery hooks. Optional - and more expensive - extras include SupaShock hi-po suspension and AP Racing front brakes, which are intended for more hardcore off-road use.

In terms of power, the Walkinshaw 550 - or would have been, could have been, the MY21 HSV SportsCat - has its four-cylinder rivals licked, including the Ranger Raptor, with Walkinshaw publicly claiming 550Nm - a 20-per-cent increase on the standard Colorado's 500Nm from its 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine.

It out-punches the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger (both 500Nm), and the Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara. In fact, only the Volkswagen Amarok TDI580 Ultimate could top it, with that ute producing a sizeable 580Nm from its V6 engine.

It's impossible to know what might have happened had Holden managed to launch the super ute earlier via HSV, what with its hardcore underpinning and headline-stealing power figures. But what we do know is just how badly Holden needed a ute hero over the last three years of its run in Australia.

Colorado sales figures in 2017 tallied 21,579, then dropped to 18,301 in 2018 and 17,472 in 2019. Compare that to the market-storming Ranger, which managed 42,728 sales in 2017, 42,144 in 2018 and 40,960 in 2019.