5.0-litre Holden V8 was instead replaced by a new 5.7-litre Gen III V8 sourced from the United States. (The LS1 engine was manufactured at the St Catharines GM powertrain factory which is in Ontario in Canada). The VT II in Gen III V8 guise was claimed by Wheels in 1999 to be the fastest Australian car ever. The V8 was detuned to from the original version, but would receive incremental power upgrades to throughout its time in the Commodore. Cosmetically, all Series II VT models received slightly revised wheel covers and alloys, front grilles (silver accents on the base models and thicker horizontal chrome bars on Berlina and Calais) as well as clear side and rear indicator lenses (as fitted on the 1997–1999 VT Calais) instead of the previous amber. The updated Calais now also featured a chrome strip across the boot garnish above the number plate, to distinguish it from the lower model variants. Holden Ute Unlike in the case of its other new generation platforms, which saw Holden release a utility version concurrent to other mainstream body shapes, a VT utility version was never developed. Instead, Holden continued to sell the VS Commodore utility version until December 2000, at which time the Holden Ute (VU) was released. This vehicle was based on the long wheelbase platform of the VX Commodore, itself launched in October 2000 as the first significant facelift of the VT series. HSV range The enhanced performance range of the original VT-based range sold by Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) comprised the following variants: Manta sedan with a 5.0-litre 195 kW V8 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic Clubsport sedan with a 5.0-litre 195 kW V8 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic GTS sedan with a 5.7-litre 220 kW V8 or optional 230 kW version 6-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic Senator sedan with a 5.7-litre 220 kW V8 or optional 230 kW version 4-speed automatic with the 5- or 6-speed manual option Senator Signature sedan with a 5.7-litre 220 kW V8 or optional 230 kW version 4-speed automatic with the 5- or 6-speed manual option Senator Estate wagon with a 5.7-litre 220 kW V8 or optional 230 kW version 4-speed automatic only. A limited-run XU8 model was also released powered by the last Australian-made 5.0-litre V8, due to be replaced by the imported 5.7-litre V8 standard on VT Series II cars. The launch of this series