HSV Maloo breaks UK record

Autocar Editor-in-Chief Steve Cropley with HSV Maloo.

The HSV Maloo, sold in the UK as the Vauxhall VXR pickup, now holds the record for a light commercial vehicle on a hill climb track in Worcestershire called Shelsley Walsh (try saying that after a few beers).

Somewhat appropriately, this brutal car was driven by former Australian Steve Cropley, who is the editor-in-chief of Autocar magazine. “The plan was not only to set a record time for light commercial vehicles at Shelsley, but to make it respectable enough to last for a while,” says Cropley.

“Despite the course being wet and littered with wild animals that thought the climbing season was over, we managed to run 38.65 seconds. Maloo's huge torque, decent launch control and ease of handling also made the whole experience less of a chore than it needed to be."