Review: Holden VP Calais (1991-93)

Holden VP.I Calais (1991-92)

Overview

Released in October 1991, the Holden VP Series I (VP.I) Calais was a large sedan. Manufactured in Elizabeth, South Australia, the rear-wheel drive VP Calais was available with either 3.8-litre V6 or 5.0-litre V8 petrol engines.

Engines: V6 and V8

The 3.8-litre V6 and 5.0-litre V8 petrol engines were carried over from the VN Calais . Of these, 

• The 3.8-litre L27 pushrod V6 petrol engine had a cast iron block and cylinder head, multi-port fuel injection, two valves per cylinder, a single balance shaft, three coil-packs for ignition, a Delco electronic control module and a compression ratio of 8.5:1; and,
• The 5.0-litre LB9 pushrod V8 engine had a cast iron block, two valves per cylinder, multi-point fuel injection, a Delco electronic control module and a compression ratio of 8.4:1.

Both the V6 and V8 engines were available with four-speed 4L60 automatic and five-speed Borg Warner M78 T5 manual transmissions.

Dimensions and developments

Based on the same platform as the VN Calais , the VP Calais sedan had the same dimensions: 4850 mm long, 1794 mm wide, 1403 mm tall and a 2731 mm long wheelbase. The VP Calais, however, introduced speed-sensitive power steering (Holden’s ‘Variotronic’) and could be identified by its body-coloured grille cover, squarer front headlight indicators, revised tail-lights and more pronounced bumpers.

Suspension

The VP Calais had MacPherson strut front suspension and independent rear suspension (IRS) with semi-trailing arms and gas-pressurised rear shock absorbers; the latter was adapted from  the VQ Statesman/Caprice .

Safety equipment

From August 1992, the VP Calais was available with ABS as an extra-cost option.

Features

Standard features for the VP Calais included 15-inch alloy wheels, a four speaker sound system with a radio and cassette player, air conditioning, cruise control, velour seat fabrics, remote central locking, power-operated front windows, power mirrors, a height adjustable driver’s seat, power-operated boot release and tachometer.

The Calais was also fitted with a newly developed anti-theft system which included automatic ignition disabling and key-activated deadlocks.

1992 VP Calais International

In October 1992, a limited-run Calais International was released. Powered by the 5.0-litre V8 engine, the Calais International was fitted with ABS, 15-inch alloy wheels from the VQ Statesman, the Commodore SS body kit (including front fog lights), VQ Caprice bootlid and ‘International’ badges. Inside, the Calais International featured a black-on-tan colour scheme with combination leather/suede seat trim and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Production of the Calais International was limited to 300 vehicles, equally split between Alaskan White and Anthracite Grey paint finishes.

Holden VP.II Calais (1993)

Overview

Released in January 1993, the VP Series II (VP.II) was a minor cosmetic update for Calais. Standard features, however, were largely unchanged.

Related links

• Wikipedia.org: Holden VP Commodore