Background: Oldsmobile, America's oldest automotive nameplate, introduced its mid-size, front-wheel-drive Intrigue four-door sedan in the summer of 1997 as a 1998 edition. Earlier this decade, skeptics pondered if General Motor's 102-years young Oldsmobile division would make it to its 100th birthday celebration in 1997. Although strong in the Chicago area, sales nation wide were sinking. Both its product line and primary buyers were aging. General Motors embarked on a mission to clarify distinctions between its luxury Buick and Oldsmobile divisions. Oldsmobile was reinvented as an "import fighting" division, taking aim at luxury rivals including BMW, Lexus and Acura; automotive makes that began nibbling away at Oldsmobile's market share in the late 1980s and early 1990s. And Oldsmobile cleaned house. Older models including the Ninty-Eight were retired while slow-selling entries like the compact Achieva were dropped outright. Even the familiar vertical rocket icon was ousted in favor of a circular-shaped logo. The full-size Aurora, debuting in 1995 model year marked the division's first next-generation car offering. Since than Oldsmobile has introduced the new Cutlass, Intrigue and compact Alero. Both Cutlass and Intrigue classify as mid-size, making Oldsmobile one of a handful of nameplates boasting two mid-size sedan offerings. Oldsmobile assembles Intrigue in Kansas City. General Motors Grand Prix and Buick Regal share the automotive platform with Intrigue, although all three look distinctly different. Has the shakeup worked? Oldsmobile's January sales were up 44 percent over the same month last year. Intrigue sold 6,319 units last month, up 7 percent. Intrigue also benefited from the X factor; a promotional tie-in with the trendy X-files theatrical release last summer. Oldsmobile even includes a mission statement for the new Intrigue; to infuse sportiness with sophistication. Although its only in its second model year of production, Intrigue added several new 1999 updates for its sophomore year.
New for 1999: A grid-type radio antenna built into the rear window is new this year. Trim level badging now adorns two of the three models and the Oldsmobile name now displays on the trunk deck lid. Intrigue also gets a new V-6 engine: a 3.5-liter, twin cam, cast aluminum V-6 variety replacing last year's V-6 offering.
Trim Levels: In its first model year, Intrigue was available in two trim levels. Three versions round out the field in 1999. The Base edition now goes under the GX designation. The GL edition, which was the most-opulent Intrigue last season becomes the mid-level entry while the newest GLS Intrigue represents top-of-the-line luxury.
Engine: The engineering team who brought out General Motors' Northstar system and Aurora V-8 engine now bring you Intrigue's 3.5-liter cast aluminum engine, weighing 50 pounds less than the 3.8-liter cast iron powertrain it replaces. Horsepower jumps to 215 in the new powertrain from the 3.8's 195 horsepower. Oldsmobile phased in Intrigue's high-tech 3.5-liter engine. All Intrigues produced after the first of the year include the lighterweight 3.5-liter. Intrigues built between September an December offered the 3.5-liter V-6 as an option.
Safety features: Dual front airbags; driver and passenger side air bags; theft deterrent system; anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes; daytime running lights and front and rear crumple zones adorn all trim levels. Remote keyless entry comes standard in GL and GLS trim levels while a $150 option in GX. Traction control is standard with the new 3.5-liter engine.
Standard equipment: All Intrigues feature four-speed automatic transmission; variable assist power steering; air conditioning; aluminum wheels; cruise control; rear window defogger; power windows; power mirrors and power door locks. Six-way power seats, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, six-speaker sound system and rear window radio antenna grid come standard in GL and GLS, while optional in entry GX editions. Automatic dual climate zones are GL and GLS exclusives.
Options: Sunroofs ($695), trunk located 12-disc compact disc changer ($460) and rear spoilers ($150) are optional in all three trim levels. Chrome alloy wheels are a $600 option in uplevel GL and GLS versions.
Price: Oldsmobile supplied the Daily Herald with a mid-level Intrigue GL. Manufacturer's suggested retail price was $22,575. After factoring upgraded stereo, 12-disc trunk holder and $560 destination charge, among other items, the bottom line added to $25,655. The entry GX starts at $21,175. The new top-level GLS tips the scales at $24,945. Both prices exclude the $560 destination charge.
Interior: Standard power window and power lock functions on door are on the small size. Dashboard placement of fuel door release and trunk release buttons, left of the steering column is a nice touch. Many competitors place these on the floor. The ignition cylinder is also on the dashboard, right of the steering column. The instrument panel includes a second, illuminated transmission shift indicator flanked by a large, circular speedometer and tachometer. Smaller fuel and temperature gauges each take a far corner. The digital, odometer is on top of the panel. Headlights operate from the turn signal stalk while windshield wipers monitor from a right-hand side stalk. A flip top storage bin situates between the two front bucket seats. Intrigue features two cup holders in front. One retracts out from the front of the storage bin with the second permanently molded holder sits in front of the floor-mounted automatic transmission. The stereo system with large preset buttons situate above the automatic climate controls. A couple of functions, including rear and front window defoggers, are small and hard to find in a pinch. Up-level GLS models include wood grain trim around the shift lever and door panels.
Seating comfort: Cloth seats permeate entry GX editions while leather seating adorns GL and GLS. Intrigue boasts excellent interior room. General Motors promotes this mid-size offering as a five seater, and three adults have ample leg and head room in back. A center arm rests fold down for back seat riders and dual cup holders retract out from between the front bucket seats. Lightweight doors swing out far enough for easy entry and exit. Large window areas prevent blind spots from becoming a concern.
Exterior: Both the Intrigue and compact Alero share rounded exterior cues from the Oldsmobile's flagship Aurora four-door sedan. Door handles are the oval, flush-mounted variety. Oldsmobile place the square, locking fuel door on the rear, driver's side quarter panel. For a clean look, the radio antenna is now built into the back window. Sixteen-inch tires and wheels come standard. The hood dips down to the bumper for a grilleless front. The circular Oldsmobile logo sits between the long, sliver-like rectangular front headlights which wrap around to the sides. Compared with popular mid-size import entries (Camry, Accord, Altima), Intrigue's sleek exterior is the most radical. Exterior colors include black, white, silver, opal blue, forest green crimson, gold and bronze mist.
Dimensions: Wheelbase: 109.0 inches Length: 195.9 inches Width: 73.6 inches Height: 56.6 inches Weight: 3,467 pounds
Fuel economy: Both the 3.5-liter and 3.8-liter V-6 engines register 19 miles per gallon in city driving. Rolling down the highway, the 3.5-liter registers 27 m.p.g. with the 3.8-liter jumps to 30 m.p.g. Intrigue's tank holds 18 gallons of regular, 87-octane unleaded fuel; several competitors in this class require premium juice.
Trunk: Intrigue's 16-cubic-foot truck ranks as one of the largest in its class. By comparison, the Lexus ES 300's trunk holds 13 cubic feet, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord include 14.1 cubic feet and Nissan Maxima has 14.5 cubic feet. Under the flat-floored trunk Olds houses a temporary spare tire. Its low-liftover design helps make loading and unloading materials a bit easier.
Final thoughts: Interior room high on your priority list? Check out Oldsmobile's two mid-size sedans. Both Intrigue and Cutlass offer excellent interior and trunk room compared with a majority of worthy competitors. Although Oldsmobile's stable houses two mid-size cars, both aim at different targets. Intrigue battles more upscale, "entry-luxury" sedans such as Infiniti's G20 and the Lexus ES 300 While Cutlass pecks away at the likes of Toyota Camry and Nissan Maxima. Intrigue's 21,000 to $27,000 price range is in line with the G20's $21,000 to $28,000 arena and well below the ES 300's $31,000 to $35,000 tag. |