Holden Royale
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1856 |
| Headquarters | Port Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Automobiles |
The Holden Royale and Holden Commodore Royale represent a lineup of vehicles manufactured by Australian company Holden specifically for the New Zealand market:
- Holden Commodore (VH) Royale (1981–1984): A trim level exclusive to New Zealand based on the Holden Commodore (VH) sedan. It resembled the VH SL/E but was powered by the 1.9-litre Starfire inline-four engine, coupled with either a five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic gearbox.
- Holden Commodore (VK) Royale (1984–1987): This New Zealand-only trim was derived from the VK Calais and offered either the 1.9-litre engine or an optional 3.3-litre Black straight-six. It featured distinctive alloy wheels—13-inch for the 1.9L variant and 14-inch for the 3.3L—and included subtle styling modifications.
- Holden Commodore (VL) Royale (1987–1989): Marketed exclusively in New Zealand alongside the VL Calais, this trim lacked the Calais’s semi-concealed headlights and rear disc brakes. Keyless entry systems were installed locally by Remac Components in Napier. Engine options included a 2.0-litre Nissan RB20 inline-six or an optional 3.0-litre RB30E six-cylinder, both mated to four-speed automatic transmissions.
- Holden Commodore (VN) Royale (1992): An Australian-manufactured sedan sold solely in New Zealand, equipped with a 2.0-litre C20NE four-cylinder engine paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, positioned below the premium VN Calais model.
- Holden Royale (VN) (1989–1990s): A lengthened variant of the Holden Calais sedan, extended by . The conversion was initially carried out by Special Purpose Vehicles in Sydney and later by Jakab Industries in Tamworth. A total of 54 units were produced, primarily exported to right-hand drive markets in Asia-Pacific for use by airlines, rental companies, and hotels; some featured bespoke Calais specifications.
- Holden Commodore (VS II) Royale (1998): An Australian-built sedan offered exclusively in New Zealand combining the front fascia of the Caprice (VS), alloy wheels sourced from the Berlina, and powered by a 2.5-litre X25XE V6 engine from Opel. These vehicles originated from a canceled Singapore order due to the Asian financial crisis and non-compliance with Australian Design Rules but were eligible for sale in New Zealand. Earlier models had been marketed in Malaysia and Singapore as the Opel Calais during VR and VS production runs.
- Holden Commodore (VT) Royale (1998–2000): An Australian-produced version of the Berlina sedan distributed exclusively within New Zealand.
- Holden Commodore (VX) Royale (2000–2002): This Australian-made iteration of the Berlina sedan was sold solely in the New Zealand market.