The 2020s have seen the unusual but welcome resurgence of the small pickup segment, with the likes of the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz. And yet, Americans still have to live without a Ute to choose from.
However, it would appear that a few people at Chevrolet were thinking about a Ute as recently as 2015. The GM Design Center posted a few sketches from its archives, and one “looks like some kind of Chevy muscle truck,” said the man behind the drawing, Brian Malczewski.
We should note here that the GM Design Center produces a lot of sketches, and the fact that a drawing exists is evidence of little more than someone within the company thinking, “Hey, this would be cool.” So don’t start saving up for a modern take on the Chevy El Camino just yet.
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Photo credit: GM Design Center
This sketch toys with the idea of a modern-day El Camino based on the Camaro (sadly there is no Chevelle to base it on) and it looks badass. GM already offered the Holden Ute in Australia, which shared a platform with the Commodore, and by extension, the Camaro.
This sketch is distinct from its Aussie counterpart, thanks to details like the Camaro-like front end, the spoiler extending from the roof over the B-pillar, and the straight bedside top, which almost becomes another spoiler in its own right. Just how effective it would be as either a pickup or a sports car is a matter of pure speculation, but from a design perspective, it does look attractive.
The DRLs at the front look cool but, in combination with the rear wheel arches and the bubbly canopy, they do make the sketch look a bit like the Toyota FT-1 concept that foretold the arrival of the latest-generation Supra.
While GM’s willingness to share this sketch suggests that it will not lead to a future production vehicle.