Holden Royale
Encyclopedia
The Holden Royale and Holden Commodore Royale are a series of automobile
s that were produced by the Australia
n subsidiary of General Motors
(GM), Holden
:
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s that were produced by the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n subsidiary of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
(GM), Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
:
- Holden VH Commodore RoyaleHolden VH CommodoreThe Holden VH Commodore, an evolution of the previous Holden Commodore VC model, was released in October 1981. The frontal appearance was mildly facelifted with a new horizontal-slat grille and new lighting components designed to give a lower, wider look, and for interest of aerodynamics...
(1981–1984): trim level of the Holden VH CommodoreHolden VH CommodoreThe Holden VH Commodore, an evolution of the previous Holden Commodore VC model, was released in October 1981. The frontal appearance was mildly facelifted with a new horizontal-slat grille and new lighting components designed to give a lower, wider look, and for interest of aerodynamics...
sedan, built and sold exclusively in New Zealand. These VH were similar in specification to the VH SL/E, but were fitted with the 1.9-litre Starfire inline-cylinder engine mated to either a five-speed manualManual transmissionA manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
or three-speed automaticAutomatic transmissionAn automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
.
- Holden VK Commodore RoyaleHolden VK CommodoreThe Holden VK Commodore was introduced in 1984 and replaced the VH. It was the first Commodore to have plastic bumpers and introduced rear quarter windows for a six-window design as opposed to the four-window design on previous Commodore models...
(1984–1987): trim level of the Holden VK CommodoreHolden VK CommodoreThe Holden VK Commodore was introduced in 1984 and replaced the VH. It was the first Commodore to have plastic bumpers and introduced rear quarter windows for a six-window design as opposed to the four-window design on previous Commodore models...
sedan, built and sold exclusively in New Zealand. VK Royales were based on the VK Calais, featuring the 1.9-litre engine as fitted to the previous VH Royale, or the optional 3.3-litre straight-six. Unique alloy wheelAlloy wheelAlloy wheels are automobile wheels which are made from an alloy of aluminium or magnesium. They are typically lighter for the same strength...
s were also fitted (13-inch for the 1.9, 14-inch for the 3.3) along with several other minor detail changes.
- Holden VL Commodore RoyaleHolden VL CommodoreThe Holden VL Commodore and Calais were a range of mid-sized cars manufactured between 1986 and 1988 by the General Motors Australian arm, Holden...
(1987–1989): trim level of the Holden VL CommodoreHolden VL CommodoreThe Holden VL Commodore and Calais were a range of mid-sized cars manufactured between 1986 and 1988 by the General Motors Australian arm, Holden...
sedan, built and sold exclusively in New Zealand. The VL Royale was sold alongside the more upmarket VL Calais, but did not share its unique semi-concealed headlamps and rear disc brakeDisc brakeThe disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
s. If keyless entry was specified, it was fitted by Remac Components in Napier, New ZealandNapier, New ZealandNapier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
. Engine-wise, the 2.0-litre Nissan RB20Nissan RB engineThe RB engine is a 2.0–3.0 L straight-6 four-stroke petrol/gasoline engine from Nissan produced from 1980-2004. A special limited edition the LMRB26 was also built during this time by General Motors in Australia....
straight-six was fitted, with the 3.0-litre RB30E six made optional. Both engines were coupled with a four-speed automatic.
- Holden VN Commodore RoyaleHolden VN CommodoreThe Holden VN Commodore was the sixth model of the Holden Commodore, a full-size car produced by the Australian automotive marque, Holden. It is essentially made out of an Opel donor body mated to either a Buick V6 or Holden V8, depending on the model, with slight tweaks to the front and rear ends...
(1992): trim level of the Holden VN CommodoreHolden VN CommodoreThe Holden VN Commodore was the sixth model of the Holden Commodore, a full-size car produced by the Australian automotive marque, Holden. It is essentially made out of an Opel donor body mated to either a Buick V6 or Holden V8, depending on the model, with slight tweaks to the front and rear ends...
sedan, built in Australia for exclusive sale in New Zealand. Like the VL, the VN Royale was sold alongside the more upmarket VN Calais, but in this case was fitted with the 2.0-litre Family IIGM Family II engineThe Family II is a straight-4 piston engine that was originally developed by Opel in the early 1970s. It was used in the Opel Ascona and Opel Kadett and their corresponding sister models the Vauxhall Cavalier and Vauxhall Astra...
four-cylinder engine coupled with a four-speed automatic.
- Holden VN RoyaleHolden VN CommodoreThe Holden VN Commodore was the sixth model of the Holden Commodore, a full-size car produced by the Australian automotive marque, Holden. It is essentially made out of an Opel donor body mated to either a Buick V6 or Holden V8, depending on the model, with slight tweaks to the front and rear ends...
(1989–1990s): stretched version of the Holden VN CalaisHolden VN CommodoreThe Holden VN Commodore was the sixth model of the Holden Commodore, a full-size car produced by the Australian automotive marque, Holden. It is essentially made out of an Opel donor body mated to either a Buick V6 or Holden V8, depending on the model, with slight tweaks to the front and rear ends...
sedan—being 1525 millimetres (60 in) longer. Jakab Industries initially undertook the conversion in Tamworth, New South WalesTamworth, New South WalesTamworth is a city in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Peel River, Tamworth, which contains an estimated population of 47,595 people, is the major regional centre for southern New England and in the local government area of Tamworth Regional Council. The city...
, until passing the job over to later Specialty Vehicles (SPV) in Sydney. In total, 54 examples were built, with the majority of examples exported to right-hand drive Asia-PacificAsia-PacificAsia-Pacific or Asia Pacific is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean...
markets for airline, rental and hotel use, with an even smaller number of sedans special made featuring custom and optional Calais equipment.
- Holden VS II Commodore RoyaleHolden VS CommodoreThe Holden VS Commodore, released in 1995, was the ninth model of the Holden Commodore, a large car built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. The VS Commodore served as a mechanical update of the second generation architecture, destined to assist sales before the all-new VT model...
(1998): version of the Holden VS CommodoreHolden VS CommodoreThe Holden VS Commodore, released in 1995, was the ninth model of the Holden Commodore, a large car built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. The VS Commodore served as a mechanical update of the second generation architecture, destined to assist sales before the all-new VT model...
sedan, built in Australia and sold exclusively in New Zealand. While in similar specification to the Calais also sold in New Zealand, the Royale featured the front-end of the Holden VS Caprice, the alloy wheels from the Holden VS BerlinaHolden VS CommodoreThe Holden VS Commodore, released in 1995, was the ninth model of the Holden Commodore, a large car built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. The VS Commodore served as a mechanical update of the second generation architecture, destined to assist sales before the all-new VT model...
and 2.5-litre X25XEX25XEThe X25XE is a Family II, Opel internal combustion engine. It is a 2.5 litre V6 petrol engine. It displaces , has 24 valves and uses one timing belt driven double overhead camshafts...
V6 engineV6 engineA V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
manufactured by OpelOpelAdam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
. These cars sold in very small numbers through Ebbett Waikato dealerships in 1998 as they were a cancelled SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
order which could not be sold in Australia but were compliant for sale in New Zealand. Earlier versions of the car were sold in Malaysia and Singapore as the Opel CalaisHolden VS CommodoreThe Holden VS Commodore, released in 1995, was the ninth model of the Holden Commodore, a large car built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. The VS Commodore served as a mechanical update of the second generation architecture, destined to assist sales before the all-new VT model...
, in both VRHolden VR CommodoreThe Holden VR Commodore of July 1993 came with an updated, sleeker and more modern design, as well as safety enhancements such as anti-lock brakes . From the side, the biggest change was the use of a round rear wheelarch, instead of a squared-off shape used on the previous VN and VP model Commodores...
and VS series cars, although the VR models featured the 2.6-litre OpelGM 54-Degree V6 engineGeneral Motors' Opel subsidiary in Europe designed a compact V6 engine with an odd 54° vee angle. It was an iron block/aluminum head DOHC design with 4 valves per cylinder. All 54° engines were assembled at Ellesmere Port in England....
straight-six in lieu of the 2.5.
- Holden VT Commodore RoyaleHolden VT CommodoreThe Holden VT Commodore, Berlina, and Calais are the tenth iteration of the Holden Commodore, a full-size car built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors...
(1998–2000): version of the Holden VT BerlinaHolden VT CommodoreThe Holden VT Commodore, Berlina, and Calais are the tenth iteration of the Holden Commodore, a full-size car built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors...
sedan, built in Australia and sold exclusively in New Zealand.
- Holden VX Commodore RoyaleHolden VX CommodoreThe Holden VX Commodore, Berlina and Calais range of full-size cars were the eleventh instalment of Holden Commodore, a model manufactured by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors...
(2000–2002): version of the Holden VX BerlinaHolden VX CommodoreThe Holden VX Commodore, Berlina and Calais range of full-size cars were the eleventh instalment of Holden Commodore, a model manufactured by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors...
sedan, built in Australia and sold exclusively in New Zealand.