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It was the same four years ago with the first generation Cadillac Seville STS came out. Squat and Tboxy, sitting -on outsized alu- minum wheels, it was a real mover,. But you never would have :noticed by the lack of promotion. ‘ eneral Motors seems to have lost the ability to indulge in boast- ful self-promotion when it comes up with avsignificant new car. Unlike Ford which hyped the new Mustang to the rafters send- ing out 200 PR men across North America to hit every fair-sized Tcity and town, The General has been all put hushed when talking about the new Oldsmobile Aurora. It was the same four years ago with the first generation Cadillac Seville STS came out. Squat and boxy, sitting -on outsized alu- minum wheels, it was a real by Oldsmobile although you’d never know it. I searched every nick and cranny to find the word “Oldsmobile”. It only appears in very small script .on the radio fas- cia and in even tinier lettering on the engine induction plenum. There is a flowing “A” on the nose for a badge (the rocket is gone!) and the name “Aurora” vis- ible above a tail light lens, but that’s about it. ' .By JIM ROBINSON Special to the Beaver Then came the new Euro-style STS with that magnificent 32- valve 290 hp Northstar V8. What a car! There was some promotion but nothing like the new‘Camaro and Firebird received. December 26. 1994 Olds Aurorazblending luxury performanc Now we have the Aurora, made My first impression of this car in slate grey metallic was of something faintly Jaguar-esgue, but more what the Aston Martin Lagonda should have looked like. The aggressive, almost muscular, flank rising over the rear wheel wells hints of power waiting to be unleased even though this is a “This limited time offer may not be combined or used with other offers. (Offer applies to retail deliveries of 1994 and 1995 new or demonstrator models purchased from dealer inventory.) Financing on approved TD Greenlight credit only. Example, $15,000 at 6.9% APR. the monme payment is $462.50 for 36 months. Cost ol borrowing is $1.650. Total obligation is $16,650. 15% downpayment is required. See Dealer tor oonditons and details. "The average commercial bank car loan lending rate in mid-December. HURRY - ENDS DECEMBER 31. GM, VISA CARD HOLDERS: DON’T FORGET TO USE ' YOUR GM CARD EARHIHGS TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF AHY OF THESE GRHT CARS, TRUCKS OR VAHS. $15,000 $25,000 IF YOU AT 6.9% OVER 36 MONTHS THE OAKVILLE BEAVER â€" BOXING DAY $2,751 $1,651 CHEW 0 GMC OLDSMOBILE $4,469 AT 11%” YOU CAN SAVE $1,718 $1,031 CHEVY 0 GMC Frankly, if you ever wanted it on a car, the Olds Aurora has it as stan- dard equipment. The reason I list the price early This is a serious contender the mid to upper luxury market. E more’s the pity Oldsmobile is : reticent to crow about what it h: done. ' Maybe it’s backlash from t] less than successful “this isn’t y0‘ father’s Oldsmobile” promotio but folks, this isn’t what dadc used to drive. Visually, two-dimension phot< do no justice to this vehicle mm the same as with the Seville ST It’s one of those cars you mu wander around at dusk to appret ated the snbtleness of the line particularly as they flow from t! front wheels to the prow. Also di tinctive is the tail lights and he they fill out the body. It’s som thing like Maserati or Montver would do - - delicious and marked step forward from tl rather dowdy tail light treatmen given to other quasi-Euro lu: osedans. I mean, if you’re going spend $42,000 for a luxury car should look like forty-two grar worth, don’t you agree? “Potent” best describes tl car’s impact on others. No 0 could discuss the Aurora with having some opinion. A 1it1 thing, but as a father I apprecial the little tethers on the rear thre point seat belts making it easy 1 kids to unfurl and clip-in. And GM owners rejoice! T1 do-all, be-all, pretend-chrome st on the left of the steering wheel cruise, turn signals, lights a washer is gone being replaced proper stalks for lights and t1 signals on the left; washer/wir shield functions on the right. 'I only down on this car was to damped power steering which fer more corporate GM than STS. Where one feels the differei between the Aurora and otl frontdrive V6 luxosedans in ‘ same price bracket is in pure The new V8, like most mu] valvesrtak‘e time'to work up revs, but once over 2,500 I]: things start of happen in Vt quick succession. First there i grunt as the four cam shafts co on song. This is followed b: muted bellow at which point ( realizes the vehicle gobbling up road at a remarkable speed for $1 a big sedan. Aiding things here GM’s technologic jewel, the 4T: E electronic automatic transm sion which could set the bent mark for mechanisms of this kini In terms of the way the pow builds up and then burst througl couldn’t help thinking of the 6 litre, V12 Jaguar Sovereign. E‘ the seating position is simi although the Aurora makes do w much more ergonomicall advanced switchgear. And GM, which scrimped back seat room in some of its p vious cars, makes up for it spades with the Aurora. The en! car is fitted in the most odorif ous of leathers. Capable of hm ing five, the seats accommod: four in palatial splendor. A unlike luxury cars of the ca} class such as the Mazda 929,. l trunk is huge and useable. in the story is because Aurora 1 something the very similai priced V6 GS 300 and Merced Benz four-cylinder C220 do 1 â€"a 4.0-liter, 32-valve, quad ct V8 producing 250 hp and a f 260 ft/lbs of torque. All tl splendid technology proved in a Cadillac Northstar is now in a 4 litre package that should be ser ing shivers of fear down I spines of boards of directors Tokyo and Stuttgart.