Oldsmobile Aurora

Oldsmobile Aurora
Production period:	1994-2003
Class :	Upper class
Body versions :	limousine
Previous model:	Oldsmobile 88 , Oldsmobile 98

The Oldsmobile Aurora was a car that was built by Oldsmobile , a brand of the General Motors group, from the beginning of 1994 until the summer of 2003 , and was the last full-size model from Oldsmobile.

For decades, Oldsmobile had been successfully positioned in the American luxury class with its 88 and 98 models , but this position was lost with the conversion of these two model series to front-wheel drive in model year 1985. The new models were not accepted by customers and suffered from the reputation of being cars for older drivers. The Aurora was about to introduce a car with a dynamic character that would help Oldsmobile regain its former reputation as a particularly advanced car brand.

The draft of this car (in terms of design and technology) was first presented in 1989 and was called the Oldsmobile Tube Car.

Aurora (1994-1999)

1st generation
Oldsmobile Aurora (1997)
Production period:	1994-1999
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engine : 4.0 liters (186 kW / 253 PS)
Length:	5217 mm
Width:	1890 mm
Height:	1400-1407 mm
Wheelbase :	2891 mm
Empty weight :	1799 kg

The Aurora was introduced in January 1994, but was called the "1995 Model" from the start. Technically, it was related to the Buick Riviera and the Cadillac Seville . It was the only Oldsmobile of its time to have an eight-cylinder engine. It was a 4,000 cc version of the Cadillac Northstar engine; the output was 184 kW (250 hp).

The Aurora had a great initial success, but sales dropped in 1996. It turned out that General Motors' brand reputation was so damaged that the Aurora, despite its existing qualities, could not keep up with luxury cars of German or Japanese origin (such as Mercedes, BMW, Lexus or Infiniti).

Aurora (1999-2003)

Rear view

2nd generation
Oldsmobile Aurora (2000)
Production period:	1999-2003
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.5-4.0 liters (160-186 kW / 218-253 hp)
Length:	5062 mm
Width:	1852 mm
Height:	1440 mm
Wheelbase :	2850 mm
Empty weight :	1645 kg

At the end of 1999 the Aurora was redesigned. Meanwhile, Oldsmobile's older large models, the 88 and 98 models, had been abandoned. The Aurora was now Oldsmobile's only luxury offering. It was now also available as the successor to the 88 with a 3500 cm³ V6 engine that developed 215 hp (158 kW).

Oddly enough, the updated Aurora was referred to as the 2001 Model from the start . The 2000 model year did not exist, because all vehicles built in 2000 already belonged to the 2001 model year.

Now the first rumors appeared that the Oldsmobile brand should be given up completely due to continued failure. These rumors naturally had an effect on the already disappointing sales success of all Oldsmobile models.

The six-cylinder was taken out of the range in mid-2002. In the 2003 model year there was only the eight-cylinder unit.

Sales continued to decline until production of the Aurora finally ceased in the summer of 2003.

At the end of April 2004, the traditional Oldsmobile brand was completely given up.

Web links

Commons : Oldsmobile Aurora  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ^ 1989 Oldsmobile Tube Car Concept , Mike Rosa, Autos of Interest, May 23, 2012; Accessed November 2, 2015