"I come from the land down under, can?t you hear the thunder?"

No we haven?t lost the plot or slipped up by including a bakkie in the shootout. Ignore the load bin, climb into the cabin and you?ll feel like you are sitting in a sports car. The cabin is well finished and has the gadgetry you?d expect in a sedan.

Gone are the days of bench seats, instead two supportive leather seats flank a practically sized storage compartment. The gearlever is in the right place and the seats and steering column are fully adjustable for optimum driving position. Combine Z4 Beemer with the brute of a TVR Sagaris and you?ll be close to the animal from down under.

With 6.0-litres of Corvette oomph up front and drive going to the rear wheels, the Chevy is the definition of fun. Add to the mix that you can stick your matching orange KTM on the back and it gets even more smiles. The price too makes you smile ? up until the Ute came along it was impossible to get a brutal sportscar for less than 400K.

Handling is un-bakkie like and is as sharp as the big-buck performance saloons. Turn in play with the loud pedal and the back dances predictably. Steering feel is a bit heavy compared to some but feedback is informative.

Around town the stopping power impressed but after a number of abusive track laps they did start to cook. Nonetheless, this Ute churned in an impressive 2 minute 10.8 and blows the bang for your buck department wide open. Versatility has a new name ? Chevy Ute.

Chevrolet Lumina Ute SS
Price: R375 900
kW/Nm: 270/530
0-100km/h (g): 6.5 secs
Top speed (c): 250km/h
Hot Lap (g): 2m10.8

> On to the next contender: Ford Focus ST