Daewoo Royale
Encyclopedia
The Daewoo Royale is a series of mid-size car
s that was produced by Daewoo Motors
in South Korea
from 1983, being replaced by the Daewoo Prince
in 1991, although production of the top-line Daewoo Imperial continued until 1993. The Royale's predecessor was launched in 1972 by General Motors Korea
(GMK) as the Rekord, becoming the Saehan Rekord in 1976 when Saehan Motors replaced GMK, until production ended in 1978. This car was a version of the German Opel Rekord D
.
The second generation Saehan Rekord was a development of the Opel Rekord E
. Production began in 1978, along with the Saehan Royale. The Royale was the Rekord E bodyshell with the front grafted on from the Opel Senator A
. The Saehan Royale became the Daewoo Royale in 1983, with Saehan Rekord being discontinued and incorporated into the Royale lineup as the Daewoo Royale XQ. In 1989, the flagship Daewoo Imperial was introduced, based on the standard Royale. While Royale production ended in 1991, Imperials continued until 1993, being replaced by the Daewoo Arcadia.
(GMK) launched the Rekord in August 1972. The GMK Rekord was based on the German-designed Opel Rekord D
. In August 1975, a version of the Rekord, known as the Rekord Royale was launched by GMK. The Royale version was based on the Opel Commodore B
, which was essentially the Opel Rekord with a lengthened engine bay. 12,005 Royales were produced between 1975 and 1978. In November 1976, GMK changed its name to Saehan Motors, and as a result, the Rekord and Rekord Royale became the Saehan Rekord and Saehan Rekord Royale.
. It was introduced in 1978 along with the Saehan Royale, which was essentially the Rekord E, featuring the front-end of the larger Senator A
.
In January 1983, after Daewoo
gained control, Saehan Motors changed its name to Daewoo Motors. At the same time the Saehan Royale was renamed Daewoo Royale, and the Saehan Rekord was absorbed in the Royale range, becoming known as the Royale XQ. Production of the XQ ended in 1987.
Until November 1984, Royale body panels were stamped by Holden
in Australia, where the Rekord-Senator hybrid was manufactured there as the Holden Commodore
. Opel adopted Holden's amalgamation as the Opel Commodore C
. After November 1984, Daewoo began pressing their own panels on a newly-installed production line. The shift to local production also coincided with an update to the car; the original series was based on the Opel Rekord E1, while the 1985 onwards models were based on the E2. The Royale Salon Super was introduced in 1986. However, unlike other Royales that utilised the Opel Rekord E2
/Senator A2
hybrid with the four-window glasshouse
design, the Salon Super used the six-window design from the Senator A. A second design revision came in 1987 with a new front-end design, featuring a revised grille
and headlamp
s, along with minor trim changes. While lower-specification versions such as the Royale Salon retained the four-window design, the Royale Super Salon continued using the six-window design from the now discontinued Salon Super. 1989 marked another design change; the Royale Prince inherited a new grille insert and adopted the six-window glasshouse. From 1989, Daewoo introduced the top-of-the-range Imperial, which was marketed separate from the Royale range. Imperial production ended in 1993, replaced by the Daewoo Arcadia.
Mid-size car
A mid-size car is the North American/Australian standard for an automobile with a size equal to or greater than that of a compact...
s that was produced by Daewoo Motors
GM Daewoo
GM Korea Company is South Korea's second largest automobile manufacturer and is a division of the General Motors Company. GM Korea's roots go back to the former Daewoo which was split from its parent company, Daewoo Group, in 2001...
in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
from 1983, being replaced by the Daewoo Prince
Daewoo Prince
The Daewoo Prince is mid-size luxury car that was produced by Daewoo in South Korea between 1991 and 1997. The car was based on the rear-wheel drive Opel Rekord E, although the body was of Daewoo design, as opposed to the Opel-designed, Holden-manurfactured body of the Prince's Royale predecessor....
in 1991, although production of the top-line Daewoo Imperial continued until 1993. The Royale's predecessor was launched in 1972 by General Motors Korea
GM Daewoo
GM Korea Company is South Korea's second largest automobile manufacturer and is a division of the General Motors Company. GM Korea's roots go back to the former Daewoo which was split from its parent company, Daewoo Group, in 2001...
(GMK) as the Rekord, becoming the Saehan Rekord in 1976 when Saehan Motors replaced GMK, until production ended in 1978. This car was a version of the German Opel Rekord D
Opel Rekord
The Opel Rekord was a large family car/executive car which was built in several generations by the German car manufacturer Opel.-Naming:The Rekord name evolved into the main name of the model; at first the name was used in close relationship with the Opel Olympia name, which pre-dated the Rekord...
.
The second generation Saehan Rekord was a development of the Opel Rekord E
Opel Rekord
The Opel Rekord was a large family car/executive car which was built in several generations by the German car manufacturer Opel.-Naming:The Rekord name evolved into the main name of the model; at first the name was used in close relationship with the Opel Olympia name, which pre-dated the Rekord...
. Production began in 1978, along with the Saehan Royale. The Royale was the Rekord E bodyshell with the front grafted on from the Opel Senator A
Opel Senator
The Opel Senator was a large automobile, two generations of which were sold in Europe by Opel, from 1978 until 1993. A saloon, its first incarnation was also available with a fastback coupé body as the Opel Monza and Vauxhall Royale Coupe....
. The Saehan Royale became the Daewoo Royale in 1983, with Saehan Rekord being discontinued and incorporated into the Royale lineup as the Daewoo Royale XQ. In 1989, the flagship Daewoo Imperial was introduced, based on the standard Royale. While Royale production ended in 1991, Imperials continued until 1993, being replaced by the Daewoo Arcadia.
First generation (1972–1978)
General Motors KoreaGM Daewoo
GM Korea Company is South Korea's second largest automobile manufacturer and is a division of the General Motors Company. GM Korea's roots go back to the former Daewoo which was split from its parent company, Daewoo Group, in 2001...
(GMK) launched the Rekord in August 1972. The GMK Rekord was based on the German-designed Opel Rekord D
Opel Rekord
The Opel Rekord was a large family car/executive car which was built in several generations by the German car manufacturer Opel.-Naming:The Rekord name evolved into the main name of the model; at first the name was used in close relationship with the Opel Olympia name, which pre-dated the Rekord...
. In August 1975, a version of the Rekord, known as the Rekord Royale was launched by GMK. The Royale version was based on the Opel Commodore B
Opel Commodore
The Opel Commodore is an executive car produced by Opel. It is the six-cylinder variant of the Rekord with styling differences. The Commodore nameplate was used by Opel from 1967 to 1982. However, its lineage continues with the Australian Holden Commodore...
, which was essentially the Opel Rekord with a lengthened engine bay. 12,005 Royales were produced between 1975 and 1978. In November 1976, GMK changed its name to Saehan Motors, and as a result, the Rekord and Rekord Royale became the Saehan Rekord and Saehan Rekord Royale.
Second generation (1978–1993)
The second generation Saehan Rekord was based on the Opel Rekord EOpel Rekord
The Opel Rekord was a large family car/executive car which was built in several generations by the German car manufacturer Opel.-Naming:The Rekord name evolved into the main name of the model; at first the name was used in close relationship with the Opel Olympia name, which pre-dated the Rekord...
. It was introduced in 1978 along with the Saehan Royale, which was essentially the Rekord E, featuring the front-end of the larger Senator A
Opel Senator
The Opel Senator was a large automobile, two generations of which were sold in Europe by Opel, from 1978 until 1993. A saloon, its first incarnation was also available with a fastback coupé body as the Opel Monza and Vauxhall Royale Coupe....
.
In January 1983, after Daewoo
Daewoo
Daewoo or the Daewoo Group was a major South Korean chaebol . It was founded on 22 March 1967 as Daewoo Industrial and was dismantled by the Korean government in 1999...
gained control, Saehan Motors changed its name to Daewoo Motors. At the same time the Saehan Royale was renamed Daewoo Royale, and the Saehan Rekord was absorbed in the Royale range, becoming known as the Royale XQ. Production of the XQ ended in 1987.
Until November 1984, Royale body panels were stamped by 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...
in Australia, where the Rekord-Senator hybrid was manufactured there as the Holden Commodore
Holden Commodore
The Holden Commodore is an automobile manufactured since 1978 by the Holden subsidiary of General Motors in Australia, and, formerly, in New Zealand. In the mid-1970s, Holden established proposals to replace the long-serving Kingswood nameplate with a smaller, Opel-based model...
. Opel adopted Holden's amalgamation as the Opel Commodore C
Opel Commodore
The Opel Commodore is an executive car produced by Opel. It is the six-cylinder variant of the Rekord with styling differences. The Commodore nameplate was used by Opel from 1967 to 1982. However, its lineage continues with the Australian Holden Commodore...
. After November 1984, Daewoo began pressing their own panels on a newly-installed production line. The shift to local production also coincided with an update to the car; the original series was based on the Opel Rekord E1, while the 1985 onwards models were based on the E2. The Royale Salon Super was introduced in 1986. However, unlike other Royales that utilised the Opel Rekord E2
Opel Rekord
The Opel Rekord was a large family car/executive car which was built in several generations by the German car manufacturer Opel.-Naming:The Rekord name evolved into the main name of the model; at first the name was used in close relationship with the Opel Olympia name, which pre-dated the Rekord...
/Senator A2
Opel Senator
The Opel Senator was a large automobile, two generations of which were sold in Europe by Opel, from 1978 until 1993. A saloon, its first incarnation was also available with a fastback coupé body as the Opel Monza and Vauxhall Royale Coupe....
hybrid with the four-window glasshouse
Car glass
Car glass includes windscreens, side and rear windows, and glass panel roofs on a vehicle. Side windows can be either fixed or be raised and lowered by depressing a button or switch or using a hand-turned crank. The power moonroof, a transparent, retractable sunroof, may be considered as an...
design, the Salon Super used the six-window design from the Senator A. A second design revision came in 1987 with a new front-end design, featuring a revised grille
Grille
A grille or grill is an opening of several slits side by side in a wall or metal sheet or other barrier, usually to let air or water enter and/or leave but keep larger objects including people and animals in or out.-Spelling:In the United States, "grille" is used to differentiate the automotive...
and headlamp
Headlamp
A headlamp is a lamp, usually attached to the front of a vehicle such as a car or a motorcycle, with the purpose of illuminating the road ahead during periods of low visibility, such as darkness or precipitation. Headlamp performance has steadily improved throughout the automobile age, spurred by...
s, along with minor trim changes. While lower-specification versions such as the Royale Salon retained the four-window design, the Royale Super Salon continued using the six-window design from the now discontinued Salon Super. 1989 marked another design change; the Royale Prince inherited a new grille insert and adopted the six-window glasshouse. From 1989, Daewoo introduced the top-of-the-range Imperial, which was marketed separate from the Royale range. Imperial production ended in 1993, replaced by the Daewoo Arcadia.
Specification levels
Daewoo Royale engines were four-cylinder Opel units, with Daewoo offering the Royale in several different levels of luxury: the Diesel, Salon, Duke, XQ, and Prince:- Royale Diesel (May 1980–April 1989):
- Royale Salon (September 1980–September 1991): fitted with a 1979 cc engine and three-speed automatic transmissionAutomatic 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...
. This powertrain combination produced 44 kW (DINDeutsches Institut für Normungis the German national organization for standardization and is that country's ISO member body. DIN is a Registered German Association headquartered in Berlin...
) and 156 newton metres (115.1 ft·lb) (DIN). Top speed was claimed at 170 kilometres per hour (105.6 mph).
- Royale Salon Super: (March 1986–1987):
- Royale Super Salon: (1987–1991):
- Royale Duke (March 1982–March 1989):
- Royale XQ (March 1982–March 1989): fitted with a 1492 cc engine and four-speed manual transmissionManual transmissionA manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
. This powertrain combination produced 74.6 kW (DIN) and 100 newton metres (73.8 ft·lb) (DIN). Top speed was claimed at 135 kilometres per hour (83.9 mph).
- Royale Prince (July 1983–May 1991): fitted with a 1897 cc engine and four-speed manual transmission. This powertrain combination produced 62.6 kW (DIN) and 142 newton metres (104.7 ft·lb) (DIN). Top speed was claimed at 168 kilometres per hour (104.4 mph).
- Daewoo Imperial (1989–1993): the Imperial was the ultimate development of the Royale, developed in response to the Hyundai SonataHyundai SonataThe Hyundai Sonata is a mid-size car/full-size car manufactured and marketed globally by Hyundai Motor Company. From the sixth generation onwards, it is known as the i45 in the Australian, Singaporean and New Zealand markets...
and GrandeurHyundai GrandeurThe New Grandeur and the third generation of the Mitsubishi Debonair were the products of a joint development between Hyundai and Mitsubishi Motors. Mitsubishi was responsible for the powertrain, and Hyundai was responsible for the body and trim design...
. Imperial styling was reminiscent of the contemporary Chrysler Imperial and New Yorker, but also some Japanese luxury sedans. Its formal roofline, and much revised front- and rear-end styling helped to cover up the car's Opel Senator roots. Imperial was specified with a vinyl roofVinyl roofVinyl roof refers to a vinyl covering for an automobile's top. This covering was originally designed to give the appearance of a convertible to models with a fixed roof, but eventually it evolved into a styling statement in its own right. Vinyl roofs were most popular in the American market, and...
, BoschRobert Bosch GmbHRobert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
anti-lock brakesAnti-lock braking systemAn anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
, digital instrumentationDashboardA dashboard is a control panel placed in front of the driver of an automobile, housing instrumentation and controls for operation of the vehicle....
, cruise controlCruise controlCruise control is a system that automatically controls the speed of a motor vehicle. The system takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver.-History:...
, automatic climate control air conditioning, power windowPower windowPower windows or electric windows as well as electric or power window lifts are automobile windows which can be raised and lowered by depressing a button or switch, as opposed to using a hand-turned crank handle.- History :Packard introduced the first power windows in the 1940 Packard...
s, power door locksPower door locksPower door locks allow the driver or front passenger to simultaneously lock or unlock all the doors of an automobile or truck, by pressing a button or flipping a switch....
, power steeringPower steeringPower steering helps drivers steer vehicles by augmenting steering effort of the steering wheel.Hydraulic or electric actuators add controlled energy to the steering mechanism, so the driver needs to provide only modest effort regardless of conditions. Power steering helps considerably when a...
, a trip computerTrip computerA trip computer is an onboard computer device fitted to cars which can generally record distance travelled, average speed, average fuel consumption, and display real time fuel consumption information...
, and leather upholstery. A 2969 cc engine and four-speed automatic transmission was also fitted. This powertrain combination produced 116 kW and 153 newton metres (112.8 ft·lb). Top speed was claimed at 195 kilometres per hour (121.2 mph).