Dinali XT news - De Gnarly pick-up - 2008

As American as shooting your neighbour or making a world series that only your country can enter, the pick-up truck is an icon of the American way.

But it's taken some Aussies based down under at GM's Holden Division - who are much more accustomed to an Oz-style Ute - to develop the much-loved pick-up into the form of the Dinali XT hybrid that you see here.

In the continuing attempt by US manufacturers to find the pick-up a way forward into the future, you'll find an electric motor and a direct injection 4.9-litre V8 engine under this hood, and running on bio-ethanol, it's slated to return 32mpg from its 326bhp.

Aussie designer Warrick Leach has spouted reams of quotes regarding what he's done and why he's done it, so to save you the pain, we've paraphrased him here:

"Awwwmaaaate, I really wanted to do a flammin' Yank truck that looked super awesome in a bogan Ute style but that had the performance and handling of a sports car only with room to put your chully bun of beer in the back. The Sheilas will love it, mate.'

Rappers and sportsman are no doubt already eager to sign up, even though the Dinali XT is only currently scheduled to go no further than the Chicago motor show next week, as there are no plans for production.

Yet.