- Refined and reliable 3.0-litre I6 engines
- Awesome turbocharged I6 engine
- Comfortable interior
- Attractive styling
- Soft suspension lacks body control
- Basic live rear axle suspension
- Underpowered V8 engine
Overview
Released in March 1986, the Holden VL Calais was initially available as mid-size, rear-wheel drive sedan. Manufactured in Elizabeth, South Australia, the VL Calais was initially available with a 3.0-litre inlins six cylinder engine. However, turbocharged engines were introduced in August 1986 and V8 engines followed in October 1986.
In March 1988, production of the Calais wagon commenced to reduce Holden’s stock of VL Commodore wagon bodies; 198 wagons were produced between March and August 1988.
Engines: RB30E, RB30ET and V8
Manufactured by Nissan, the 3.0-litre RB30E inline six cylinder engine had a cast iron block, an alloy cylinder head, a single overhead camshaft (SOHC, belt-driven), electronic fuel injection (EFI), an Electronic Combustion Control System (ECCS) and a ram-tuned intake manifold. In August 1986, a turbocharged version of the RB30E engine was introduced – the RB30ET – which had a Garrett turbocharger that was fitted inside a water-cooled housing, new pistons and a lower compression ratio (7.8:1, compared to 9.0:1). For these six cylinder engines, transmission choices consisted of a five-speed manual or a four-speed Jatco automatic units (the latter with an overdrive gear and fuel-saving torque converter clutch).
From October 1986, the VL Calais was available with a 5.0-litre pushrod V8 engine which had a cast iron block, two valves per cylinder and a four-barrel Rochester carburetor – this engine was solely available with a three-speed automatic transmission (Holden’s ‘Trimatic’).
Suspension and dimensions
The VL Calais had MacPherson strut front suspension and a live rear axle with lower trailing arms. The Calais sedan was 4766 mm long, 1722 mm wide, 1368 mm tall and its wheelbase was 2668 mm long. The wagon, however, was 3 mm shorter (at 4763 mm) but 21 mm taller (1389 mm); the other measurements were the same. Compared to its VK predecessor, the VL Calais could be identified by its more rounded styling, elongated headlights with semi-retracting covers and a bootlid spoiler.
| Body | Engine | Trans. | Years | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | 3.0-litre petrol I6 | 4sp auto | 1986-88 | 114 kW at 5200 rpm | 247 Nm at 3600 rpm |
| 5sp man. | 1986-87 | ||||
| 3.0-litre turbo petrol I6 | 5sp man., 4sp auto |
1986-88 | 150 kW at 5600 rpm | 296 Nm at 3200 rpm | |
| Wagon | 3.0-litre petrol I6 | 4sp auto | 1988 | 114 kW at 5200 rpm | 247 Nm at 3600 rpm |
| 3.0-litre turbo petrol I6 | 4sp auto | 1988 | 150 kW at 5600 rpm | 296 Nm at 3200 rpm | |
| 5.0-litre petrol V8 | 3sp auto | 1988 | 122 kW at 4400 rpm | 323 Nm at 3200 rpm |
Features
Standard features for the VL Calais included 15-inch alloy wheels, a four speaker sound system with a radio and cassette player, cruise control, air conditioning, central locking, power mirrors, a height adjustable driver’s seat, power-operated antenna and trip computer.
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