Fans of rear-drive muscle cars will know that Australia has emerged as a tremendous resource for American metal - particularly for GM. The Chevrolet Camaro and the gone-but-not-forgotten Pontiac G8 and GTO all trace their roots, in some form or another, to the Holden Commodore (GM's Aussie sedan), and so will the upcoming Chevrolet SS. So when Holden unveils a new version of the Commodore, American enthusiasts stand up and take notice. And that's just what we have here.

Released today for the market Down Under, the new Holden VF Commodore has been upgraded with some fresh sheet-metal and the latest advancements the automotive industry has to offer. Pictured here in luxe Calais V trim, the Commodore has a tweaked body design that's less boxy and more modern, with sharply-creased panels, LED daytime running lights, and an interior updated to the latest standards. That includes a full infortainment system with large display and MyLink system, head-up display and all the latest electronic nannies offered on the options list by one of the world's largest automakers. GM has remained mum, however, on the mechanical details.

That's all well and fine for Australian consumers, but what the new Commodore foreshadows is the arrival of the new Chevy SS, which will stand as the Bow-Tie brand's four-door performance flagship when it launches at Daytona mere days from now. Our money would be on the Chevy version looking pretty spot-on to the Holden you see here, only with more of a performance orientation than the ritzier approach taken on this model.