Holden, GM's Australian subsidiary, will have a pivotal role in designing and engineering GM's upcoming Zeta-based rear-wheel-drive cars, AutoWeek is reporting today. Such a move signals GM's satisfaction with the profitable division, despite lackluster sales of the new Pontiac GTO, which was developed from Holden's Monaro coupe. Holden, which still makes something resembling an El Camino, called the SS Ute, just can't seem to get enough of its 5.7 liter Generation III V8, which is offered in all of its midsize and larger models. New, rear-drive V8-powered Buicks and Pontiacs? Sounds like a swingin' party. Everyone put your keys in the punchbowl.

More from Down Under: Holden to play a larger role in GM's future product plans [AutoWeek]

Monaro History [Holden Australia]

Related:
Muscle Cars for Gearheads Down Under [internal]