The Oldsmobile Aurora is a luxury sports sedan built and sold by Oldsmobile, a division car manufacturer of General Motors. Oldsmobile manufactured the Aurora for two generations from 1994 to 2003 with the same platform as Buick Riviera and Cadillac-derived G platform. The Aurora was Oldsmobile's top-of-the-line automobile during its production era. Oldsmobile used the Allante 4.5 V8 engine and all-wheel drive in the Cadillac Aurora concept car of 1990.
History of Oldsmobile Aurora
Oldsmobile Aurora First Generation (1995 - 1999)
In 1989, the Oldsmobile Tube Car, a design idea that would later become the Aurora, was born out of years of design effort in the late 1980s. On January 31, 1994, Oldsmobile started manufacturing the Aurora as a 1995 model year after extensive testing and development. It came equipped with several high-end and cutting-edge features, including dual-zone climate control and leather upholstery—more features in the middle section of this page. True to its name, the Aurora shone brightly due to its high-quality construction and performance and exceptionally high safety records. In the same way that the Lexus LS 400 took many years to create, the Aurora took a similar amount of time. The 1999 Aurora was the final year for the first generation Aurora, with new engine mounts to increase the vehicle's structural integrity. On June 25, 1999, the development of this generation came to an end.
Oldsmobile Aurora Second Generation (1995 - 1999)
Oldsmobile started manufacturing the second-generation Aurora on November 10, 1999, and it went on sale in February 2000. Oldsmobile Aurora's second generation lasted just three years before GM discontinued the model due to low sales, despite being superior to its previous model. For the first time, Oldsmobile introduced a V6 engine in the Aurora. "Shortstar" refers to a DOHC Aurora V8 trimmed down to the LX5, a V6 version known as the LX5. Oldsmobile built only the Aurora's 2001 and 2002 model years with a V6 engine, and manufacturing ended in mid-2002. The GM 4T65E served as the transmission for this engine's output to the wheels. Oldsmobile attempted to compete with other high-end automobiles when it released the Aurora series. In the second generation, the focus shifted to the sports sedan segment. However, the design was left untouched by the carmaker. As a result, it utterly failed in its attempt to market a car with a sporty exterior and an expensive price tag.
Price
Oldsmobile sold the Oldsmobile Aurora 3.5L V6 engine with an MSRP of $30,619 ($49,051 in 2022) and $34,794 ($55,740 in 2022) for the 4.0L V8 engine variant.
Features
Oldsmobile focused on decades of experience to design a luxurious-looking and comfortable cabin for the interior. There was nothing wrong with the walnut veneers and beautiful leather seats, but they didn't fit a sports sedan. Because most Oldsmobile customers were older, the designers decided to use black dials and white needles in the instrument panel. In addition to its odd front fascia, the vehicle also had a closed panel between its narrow, horizontal headlamps with rounded ends. In order to reduce the heat of the engine, Oldsmobile relied on a bumper-mounted lower grille. The Aurora was created during the height of the bio-design trend and had long, curved body contours and slightly oversized front and rear fenders. In contrast to its sporting, sharp appearance, the car's cab-forward design and steeply slanted back windshield gave the impression of a melted object. Standard features for the second-generation Oldsmobile Aurora include keyless entry, luxury leather-trimmed seats with power adjustments for the driver's seat, security alarm, cassette and single-disc CD players, and an AM-FM stereo with radio data system (RDS). Additional standard features for the Aurora model were leather door panel inserts, a six-speaker sound system, automatic climate control, wood interior trim, steering wheel-mounted climate control, OnStar in-vehicle telematics system, radio controls, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The model's more standard features are the power trunk release from the keyless entry remote, a rear bench seat with a fold-down center armrest, a multi-function driver's information center, a spare tire and wheel, and luxury-styled alloy wheels, an automatic front head, and fog lamps.
Specs
The Oldsmobile Aurora 4.0L V8 4AT engine delivers 254 hp (186 kW) at 5,600 rpm and 260 lb-ft (353 Nm) at 4,400 rpm of torque. The Oldsmobile Aurora accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in 8.6 seconds with a top speed of 135 mph (217 kph) and a curb weight of 3,803 lbs (1,725 kg). Oldsmobile manufactured the Aurora as a front-wheel-drive (FWD) model with a 4-speed automatic gearbox. Oldsmobile manufactured the Aurora models with two engines: 4.0L V8 4AT and 3.5L V6 4AT engines.
Release Date
Oldsmobile manufactured the first-generation Oldsmobile Aurora on January 31, 1994, and released it for the 1995 model year. The car manufacturer discontinued the final 500 Auroras on March 28, 2003.