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Second generation
Overview
Production	November 1999 – March 2003
Model years	2001–2003
Designer	Dennis Burke (1996)
Body and chassis
Related	Buick LeSabre Buick Park Avenue Pontiac Bonneville Cadillac Seville Cadillac DeVille
Powertrain
Engine	3.5 L LX5 V6 4.0 L L47 V8
Transmission	4-speed 4T65-E automatic 4-speed 4T80-E automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	112.2 in (2,850 mm)
Length	199.3 in (5,062 mm)
Width	72.9 in (1,852 mm)
Height	56.7 in (1,440 mm)
Curb weight	3,627 lb (1,645 kg)

Oldsmobile's original intention for the second generation was to move the Aurora further upmarket, retaining its V8-only drivetrain and sharing a platform with the new Buick Riviera, as the original Aurora had done.

This would have created more room within the Oldsmobile lineup for a four-door Eighty-Eight successor known as the "Antares". However, Buick dropped its Riviera development plans and fiscal trouble found Oldsmobile, so Oldsmobile was forced to re-engineer the Antares into an acceptable Aurora in short time. Still using the G-body design, the re-engineered Aurora was the result, but retaining its 4.0 V8 Northstar still mounted to a 4T80-E.

Oldsmobile also offered a V6 engine in the Aurora for the first time. The V6 in question was the LX5, a cut-down relation of the DOHC Aurora V8, dubbed the "Shortstar." The V6-powered Aurora was produced for the 2001 and 2002 model years only, with production ceasing in mid-2002.

 

2003 Oldsmobile Aurora

This Aurora, though still a competitive luxury sedan, did not attract the attention, nor sales that the original did. This can be blamed on several reasons. Most of all was that the new Aurora, as well as the new 2002 Bravada, was overshadowed by GM's announcement in December 2000 that the Oldsmobile marque was to be phased out over the next several years. Though still retaining its unique styling, it now shared design cues from other Oldsmobiles, as well many parts in common with other GM vehicles. This took away the "separateness" from other Oldsmobiles that the original had. Also, the second generation Aurora was over six inches shorter than was the first generation. Automobile magazine wrote that "The Aurora's new look is not quite as sensuous or elegant as that of the outgoing model," but the Auto Channel review said, "it was better in every respect."

The second generation Aurora went into production on November 1, 1999, and went on sale in February 2000 as a 2001 model. The last V6-powered Auroras rolled off the assembly line on June 21, 2002. The final 500 Auroras ended production on March 28, 2003. These were all a special burgundy color (called "dark cherry metallic"), had special chrome wheels, and "Final 500" badging. The Orion, Michigan plant built a total of 71,722 second-generation Auroras;^{[citation needed]} 53,640 in 2001, 10,865 in 2002, and 7,217 in 2003.

Standard and optional equipment

The second-generation (2001-2003) Oldsmobile Aurora was very well equipped from the factory, as was expected of a luxury vehicle. Standard features on the Aurora were as follows: keyless entry, a security alarm, luxury leather-trimmed seating surfaces with power adjustments for the driver's seat, an AM-FM stereo with radio data system (RDS) and cassette and single-disc CD players, a six-speaker sound system, leather door panel inserts, wood interior trim, automatic climate control, OnStar in-vehicle telematics system (later introduction), steering wheel-mounted climate and radio controls, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power trunk release from the keyless entry remote, a multi-function driver's information center mounted above the factory radio and climate controls, a rear bench seat with fold-down center armrest, luxury-styled alloy wheels, a spare tire and wheel, automatic front head and fog lamps, a 3.5L V6 engine, a 4-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel-drive (FWD), front and side SRS airbags.

While there was not an abundance of optional equipment on the Aurora, the few additional options included a driver's memory package with memory front driver's seat and memory for radio presets, heated dual front bucket seats, a premium audio system with external amplifier by Bose, a power tilt-and-sliding sunroof, chrome-finished alloy wheels, a gold emblem package for the front and rear Oldsmobile emblems, Aurora emblem, and 3.5 or 4.0 emblems, and the 4.0L Northstar V8 engine (this engine became standard equipment in 2003 for the Aurora's final year of production). Starting in 2002, a voice-activated, CD-ROM based navigation system was available.

Engines

• 2001–2002• LX5 3.5 L (212 in³) V6, 215 hp (160 kW) @ 5600 rpm, 234 lb·ft (317 N·m) torque @ 4400 rpm.
• 2001–2003• L47 4.0 L (244 in³) V8, 250 hp (186 kW) @ 5600 rpm, 260 lb·ft (353 N·m) torque @ 4400 rpm.

Production numbers

The production numbers for both generations of the Aurora:

Pace car

 

1997 Oldsmobile Aurora Indy 500 Pace Car

Aurora was the official pace car of the 1997 and 2000 Indianapolis 500. At the beginning of the race in 1997, the pace car was driven by three-time Indy 500 winner Johnny Rutherford. At the beginning of the 2000 race, the pace car was driven by actor Anthony Edwards. These cars marked the ninth and tenth time an Oldsmobile had paced the Indianapolis 500 race.