popularity of imported luxury cars made an indelible mark on American car

makers--and the mark was a bruise. It took a wholesale retooling of classical

Detroit mindsets to confront this formidable offshore challenge, and in

these upscale car wars the domestics emerged from their foxholes loaded

for bear. The simple fact that the Aurora even exists is ample proof that

the message of luxo-imports has been intercepted, decoded, and implemented.

Briefly recapping the now familiar narrative, the Olds product line

was in dire need of fresh blood when the sleek Aurora sedan was introduced

in the fall of 1994 as a '95 model. It immediately became something of

a heartthrob for the normally jaded motor press, who embraced the Lansing

automaker's new grasp of the subtle characteristics of luxury and performance.

It was obvious that the Infinitis and Lexuses of the world had provided

the template for Aurora. What we said last year in these pages is still

true--Olds sought to rebuild its image, starting from the top, and it's

worked.

current or past Oldsmobile (though recent auto-show concept cars suggest

that future Oldsmobiles will look this good and better).

A hallmark of the cleanly executed original design was the absence of

gaudy and unnecessary chrome embellishments or brazen badging, including

the absence of an Oldsmobile nameplate. The only place the word Oldsmobile

appeared at all was on the faceplate of the radio.

For 97, a modest Olds badge returns to the right-rear corner of the

car along with the stylized "flying A" Aurora logo. Other changes

are equally subtle: The underside of the door handles have been slightly

recountoured to minimize slipping fingers when the handles are pulled;

seatbelt release buttons have been moved from the face of the buckle to

the end for improved convenience; an electronic compass has been added

to the inside rear-view mirror; and larger front brakes came along with

cast aluminum front control arms and steering knuckles.

Oh yeah--the right outside rear-view mirror now tilts down for a curb's-eye

view when the transmission is shifted into reverse. Tens of Big Wheel trikes,

left in driveways overnight, will thus be saved from a premature end. Don't

like this feature? It can be cancelled simply by leaving the power mirror

adjuster in the right-hand position.

Befitting a class act, Aurora is impressively solid and well-built.

The doors close into their locks with a satisfying chunk and fit tightly,

eliminating mismatched exterior panels and excess road noise. The greenhouse

looks smaller from the outside than it is from the inside; visibility is

unimpeded in all directions.

More than anything else, however, the handsome Aurora is a new expression

of real beauty among American sedans of any stripe or price. It's at once

muscular and graceful, seemingly contradictory qualities that combine here

like a blend of DNA from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Glenn Close.

spend almost all of our time with the car. A luxo-sport sedan such as the

Aurora has to be interesting and still provide a level of cosseting that

invokes that involuntary aaahhhhh from a tired owner at the end of the

day.

The Aurora acquits itself well in these areas. The sensory experience

begins when you drop into leather-trimmed front bucket seats and that wonderful

leathery incense tickles your sense of smell. The comfortable steering

wheel is a satisfying handful, not too thick, not too thin, and is also

trimmed in leather.

We expect a high level of standard equipment from a sedan playing in

this league, and Aurora doesn't disappoint. Check the exhaustive list in

our specifications box for a complete rundown, but some highlights include

dual climate controls, power everything including memory seat and mirror

positions, and our favorite, the universal garage door opener.

Yeah, it's a little thing. But once the device is programmed, you can

put that stand-alone opener in your kitchen junk drawer. Some of us still

have an older opener the size of a car battery, which always seems to fall

off the sun-visor, to the surprise and dismay of driver or passenger.

Large instrument graphics and convenient rotary knobs for climate controls

provide a nice level of user friendliness. A sophisticated driver info

center provides readouts for lots of useful data such as mileage and fuel

economy, programmable ETA and a canny distance-to-empty fuel reading.

With big doors that open wide and accommodations for five adults, the

car is a roomy place to spend time. We'd like to see a larger trunk opening

with a lower lift-over height, but most luggage can be stowed easily (including

those all-important golf bags).

in this class, and nothing contributes more to the sport equation than

a big-displacement American V8. Bigger is better. Believe it.

The Olds 4.0-liter V-8 is a powerful derivative of Cadillac's world-class

4.6-liter Northstar V8. The Olds edition has slightly less displacement

but retains the twin overhead camshafts and 32 valves for great breathing.

The engine sends its 250 horsepower through a quiet four-speed automatic

transmission. The standard axle ratio of 3.38:1 is replaced with a 3.71:1

gear in the optional Autobahn package with which our test car was equipped.

Higher-speed-rated tires also come with the package.

The Aurora accelerates with authority, gears electronically changing

silently and efficiently, but the experience is tuned less for all-out

scoot than a more mature build-up of speed. That said, typical 0-to-60

mph clockings come in well under nine seconds in instrumented tests.

Under way, the car's exceptional body structure resists the intrusion

of wind, road, and engine noises, providing a quiet interior. In addition,

because the Aurora is naturally rigid, its fully independent suspension

can be tuned firmer for better handling without impacting, as it were,

ride quality or telegraphing vibration to the interior. Good structure

also serves to reduce or eliminate potential rattles and squeaks.

We thoroughly enjoyed driving this car. The Magnasteer speed-sensitive

power steering provides more assist at low speeds for parking and in-town

maneuvering and less assist at highway speeds for reassuring directional

control. Magnasteer is a compromise: It filters out a fair amount of the

road feel some enthusiasts enjoy. But steering is linear and direct and

you will enjoy using it to aim the car through corners on those back-country

roads. And when those country lanes are snow covered, standard traction

control will help pull you through.

The Aurora radiates a dignified performance ambience. The engine doesn't

make a noise, but a sound. For all its mass, it accelerates briskly and

with confidence. It looks like a high-performance cruise missile and, within

limits, it is one. If Olds hoped to burnish its image with a gold-standard

sporty sedan, it succeeded.

driving needs and desires differ from person to person, no automobile on

the road today can be all things to all people. That's what makes the selection

process so interesting.

The Olds Aurora, however, presents a strong case for all-around desirability

in this class, even against such well-regarded makes as the Lexus GS 300

and Infiniti J30.

Admittedly, the sticker price is getting into rare air and it won't

be for every budget. Nevertheless, Olds delivers a great deal of elegant

car for the money. It's pleasant, competent, beautiful to look at, and

comes out of the box with a groaning list of standard equipment.