Thumping V8s, rear-wheel drive and a soundtrack to wake the dead - for Aussie petrol heads that recipe is almost part of the constitution.

If there were to be one small consolation to the sad demise of Holden it would have to be that parent company General Motors has promised us more exciting gear arriving Down Under, and thankfully our octane thirsty brethren in North America share our love of a muscle-car.

After announcing it too would pack up Australian production, Ford decided on a similar blow-softening tactic, and has already pledged a right-hand drive version of the iconic Mustang for us.