This Australian-built flagship had a strange second life in China, sold as the Buick Royaum — though barely anyone bought one: just over 2,000 units in its first year.
Lead trim: Statesman / Caprice WL 3.6 Alloytec V6 (255 hp) · up to 329 hp
Holden Caprice / StatesmanWL · 2004–2006
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Holden Caprice / Statesman yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactThis Australian-built flagship had a strange second life in China, sold as the Buick Royaum — though barely anyone bought one: just over 2,000 units in its first year.
Released in August 2004, the VZ Commodore based WL brought an all-new 3.6-litre Alloytec V6 in place of the WK's Ecotec unit, rated at 190 kW (255 hp) and 340 N·m (251 lb·ft). The Statesman's optional V8 was the 245 kW (329 hp) version from the WK Caprice, with the WL Caprice's engine gaining a further 5 kW (6.7 hp); the V8s received a stronger GM 4L65-E automatic, while the Alloytec V6 versions got a new five-speed GM 5L40-E. New safety features included brake assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, Electronic Stability Program and LED tail lamps, which give an additional 5 metres (16 ft) of warning to trailing motorists at 110 km/h (68 mph) because they illuminate in 60 nanoseconds against 1,000 for incandescent bulbs. In 2005 General Motors began exporting the Statesman to China as the Buick Royaum (initially with the 3.6 Alloytec, followed later that year by a 155 kW (208 hp) 2.8-litre LP1; 2,008 sales in 2005 and 3,631 in 2006–07, production ending in early 2007) and, from an export programme announced on 12 April 2005, to South Korea as the Daewoo Statesman (almost 2,000 units in 2005); a Chevrolet Caprice SS was sold in the Middle East.
Collectors Spotted in the Holden Caprice / Statesman Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Holden Caprice / Statesman yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statesman / Caprice WL 3.6 Alloytec V6 (255 hp) | 2004–2006 | 3.6 L V6 | 255 hp | 251 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Statesman WL optional V8 (329 hp) | 2004–2006 | 5.7 L V8 | 329 hp | 343 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
The WN was the most advanced Caprice Holden ever built - and the last: an 8-inch touchscreen, auto-park, head-up display and collision warning, all standard, right before the brand walked away from local manufacturing.
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Holden spent a reported A$190 million developing this long-wheelbase Caprice/Statesman alone, on top of the VE Commodore's own billion-dollar program underneath it.
This Australian-built flagship had a strange second life in China, sold as the Buick Royaum — though barely anyone bought one: just over 2,000 units in its first year.
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Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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