General Motors Korea (GMK) launched the Rekord in August 1972.^[2] The GMK Rekord was based on the German-designed Opel Rekord D.^[3] In August 1975, a version of the Rekord, known as the Rekord Royale was launched by GMK.^[2] The Royale version was based on the Opel Commodore B, which was essentially the Opel Rekord with a lengthened engine bay.^[4] 12,005 Royales were produced between 1975 and 1978.^[3] In November 1976, GMK changed its name to Saehan Motors,^[2] and as a result, the Rekord and Rekord Royale became the Saehan Rekord and Saehan Rekord Royale.

The second generation Saehan Rekord was based on the Opel Rekord E. 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,^[5] and the Saehan Rekord was absorbed in the Royale range, becoming known as the Royale XQ.^[6] Production of the XQ ended in 1987.^[7]

Until November 1984, Royale body panels were stamped by Holden in Australia, where the Rekord-Senator hybrid was manufactured there as the Holden Commodore.^[8] After November 1984, Daewoo began pressing their own panels on a newly installed production line.^[8] The E1 bodystyle continued to be built as the Royale XQ and Diesel, while the Prince received the Senator A2's front end. All Korean-built shells, however, received a unique rear pressing with large, somewhat sloped rectangular taillights, which increased the length by about 5 cm (2 in).^[9] The Royale Salon continued with the Senator A1 front end until it received a whole new front in 1987. 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.^[10] A second design revision came in 1987 with a new front-end design, featuring a revised grille and headlamps, 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.^[11] The old-style XQ and Diesel received an all new front end of a smooth, upright, and rectangular appearance. 1989 marked another design change; the Royale Prince inherited a new grille insert and adopted the six-window glasshouse.^[12] From 1989, Daewoo introduced the top-of-the-range Imperial, which was marketed separate from the Royale range.^[13] Imperial production ended in 1993, replaced by the Daewoo Arcadia.^[14]

Specification levels edit

Daewoo Royale engines were four-cylinder Opel units,^[15] with Daewoo offering the Royale in several different levels of luxury: the Diesel, Salon, Duke, XQ, and Prince:^[16]

• Royale Diesel (May 1980^[17]–April 1989): As the Royale Duke Diesel from early 1987; fitted with Opel's 2.0-liter diesel engine.
• Royale Salon (September 1980 – September 1991): fitted with a 1979 cc engine and three-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain combination produced 100 PS (74 kW) (DIN) and 156 N⋅m (115 ft⋅lb) (DIN). Top speed was claimed at 176 km/h (109 mph).^[18]
  • Royale Salon Super: (March 1986 – 1987):^[17] this fully equipped model (digital dashboard, trip computer, EFI, etcetera) uses the Senator's six-window glass house.
  • Royale Super Salon: (1987–1991):
• Royale Duke (February 1987 – March 1989): a new lower-end model fitted with a more modern 1498 cc engine.
• Royale XQ (August 1983 – 1987): fitted with a 1492 cc engine and four-speed manual transmission. This powertrain combination produced 44 kW (60 PS; 59 hp) (DIN) and 100 N⋅m (74 ft⋅lb) (DIN). Top speed was claimed at 135 km/h (84 mph).^[19]
• Royale Prince (July 1983–June 1991): used the E2 bodywork, fitted with a 1897 cc engine and four-speed manual transmission. This powertrain combination produced 63 kW (86 PS; 84 hp) (DIN) and 142 N⋅m (105 ft⋅lb) (DIN). Top speed was claimed at 168 km/h (104 mph).^[20]
• Daewoo Imperial (February 1989 – mid-1993):^[21] the Imperial was the ultimate development of the Royale, developed in response to the Hyundai Sonata and Grandeur. 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.^[14] Imperial was specified with a vinyl roof, Bosch anti-lock brakes, digital instrumentation, cruise control, automatic climate control air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, power steering, a trip computer, and leather upholstery.^[22] A 2969 cc engine and four-speed automatic transmission was also fitted.^[21] This powertrain combination produced 135 kW (181 hp) and 230 N⋅m (170 ft⋅lb).^[21] Top speed was claimed at 195 km/h (121 mph).^[21]

• Robertson, David (September 1984). "A new contender". Modern Motor. Sydney, New South Wales: Australian Consolidated Press.
• Schaefers, Martin (1998–2008). "Rekord body history". Far East Auto Literature. Retrieved 21 September 2009.