Oldsmobile Intrigue

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Oldsmobile Intrigue
2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
Manufacturer General Motors
Production 1998–2002
Assembly Kansas City, Kansas
Predecessor Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Class Mid-size
Body style 4-door sedan
Layout FF layout
Platform W-body
Engine 3.8 L L36 OHV V6
3.5 L LX5 DOHC V6
Transmission 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase 109.0 in
Length 195.9 in
Width 73.6 in
Height 56.6 in
Top Speed 110 mph (governed)
Fuel capacity 17 gal.
Related Buick Century
Buick Regal
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Lumina
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Pontiac Grand Prix
Similar Mercury Sable
Chrysler Concorde
Toyota Camry

The Oldsmobile Intrigue was a mid-size sedan manufactured from 1998 through 2002 by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. The Intrigue's design cues were first seen in 1995 with the Oldsmobile Antares concept car. The Intrigue was the first casualty in the phase-out process of Oldsmobile.

The Aurora-inspired, Intrigue was designed to compete more with Japanese automobiles, and replaced the aging Cutlass Supreme. It went into production on May 5, 1997. It was similar to a range of mid-sized sedans from other GM divisions, including the Buick Century, Buick Regal, Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the Pontiac Grand Prix. The Intrigue diverged from its siblings in its chassis tuning, equipment, and some dimensions. Wheelbase, for instance, was 1.5 inches shorter for the Intrigue than the Grand Prix. The Intrigue was available in three trim levels: base GX, mid-level GL, and high-end GLS.

All Intrigues were built at the GM Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kansas, where the Grand Prix was also built (the Buick Century and Regal, and the Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo were all built in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada). For the 1999 model year, a new, sophisticated DOHC 3.5L "Shortstar" engine, a six-cylinder based on the GM Northstar V8, was introduced. On June 14, 2002, the final Intrigue rolled off the assembly line, as part of the Final 500 Collectors Edition.

Contents

[edit] Engines

[edit] Year-to-year changes

  • 1999: For the beginning of this model year, the DOHC 3.5 L "Shortstar" engine was standard in the top-line GLS and optional on mid-level GL and base GX models. Later, it became standard on all models. Decklids now wore Oldsmobile badge (in the previous model year, there was a complaint that some people couldn't tell that Intrigues were Oldsmobiles). All models now got a thicker, leather-wrapped steering wheel. New to the option list was GM's OnStar emergency/communications system.
  • 2000: New to the option list for 2000 was an antiskid system called the Precision Control System. Precision Control System was designed to help keep the car on its intended path by selective braking of one or more individual wheels. Though optional on all models, GX buyers had to order optional traction control to get the new antiskid system. Heated power front seats were now standard on GLS models. Retained accessory power was standard this year. "Oldsmobile" emblem on deck lid is larger than on 1999 models. A new gold-trim package was also available.
  • 2001: On GX models, traction control became optional instead of standard. New standard automatic headlights were now standard on all models. Premium Leather and Precision Sport option packages were also available for this year.
  • 2002: GLS models now featured a two-tone interior with sterling accents, as well as standard Homelink, sunroof, and driver lumbar. All models featured new family of radios with RDS and standard CD player (borrowed from the newly-redesigned Aurora). Tropic Teal and Indigo Blue were two new exterior colors. All models had new LATCH (Lower Anchor and Top tether for Children) in three rear seat positions. Sun & Sound package was available on GL models (includes Bose sound system and sunroof). New winchester headliner was inside. Production of the Intrigue ended in June 2002 as part of the phaseout of the Oldsmobile brand.

[edit] Scale Model

Oldsmobile commissioned a promo model of the Intrigue for the 1998 model year, made by AMT. It had somewhat better paint detailing than prior generations of American 1/25 scale plastic promos; the tri-color taillights are faithfully rendered and there is tampo badging. As with the Geo Storm, and unlike all other AMT promos from the '90s, it was not offered as a model kit.

[edit] External links


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