LtuniLmna: Contemporary 4-mdoor f a mly seda The Lumina was recently introduced with a~ considerable Review By Greg Wlson 1990 Price as tested Base price Engine Horsepower Transaxle Tires Curb weight -Wheelbase* Length Width Height Trunkspace Fuel econoniy anjount of fanfare. The truth isEo the Lumina sedan is avariant of the GM-10 series of cars introduced last year. Others in this GM fanxily include the Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Pontiac Grand Prix. Havirig said that, the Lumina does break new ground for Chevrolet in a number of areas. The sedan is' the largest front-wheel-drive car ever produced by Chevrolet. It is about ten inches longer than the Chevrolet Celebrity, which it replaces, and it is about four to six inches longer than the Regal, C utlass and Grand Prix. The most important thing about the new Lumina is that it bas four doors. (The other GM-10 cars don't, yet). This 'may seem trivial, but in the domestic family sedan market, those extra two doors will mean significantly more sales for Chevrolet. A two-door coupe and a mini-van version of the. I.umina will be introduced later this year. Currently, two Lumina niodels Technical Data Chevrolet Lunina Euro sedan $20,501 $20,047 (Euro) $16,070 (base model) 3.1 liter OHV V6 w/multi-port fuel injection 140 @ 4800 rpm. 3 spd auto/4 spd auto overdrive- P195/70R-15 Goodyear Eagle all-season steel-belted radials 1416 kg/3122 Ibe. 2731 mrm/107.5 in. 5037 mm/198.3 in.' 1816 mm/71.1 in. 1349 mm/53.1 in. 445 litres/15.7 cu. ft. avg. 9.9 V100 kmn, 30 mpg. CEVROLET'S practical, new mid-size styling, front-wheel drive, four doors Lumina Sedan offers -ntemporary and room for a family of six. are available: a base model with a standard 2.5-litre four cylinder engine with throttle body fuel injection and 112 horsepower. Standard features include three- speed automatic transaie, four- wheel power disc brakes, reclining front seats, and a handsome, roomy six-passenger interior. Base price is a very reasonable $16,070. One other model is available, the Lumina Euro. Standard powertrain is a 3.1-liter V6 with multi-port fuel injection, which developîs 140 horsepower. A three-speed automatic transaxle is standard and a four-speed automnatic overdrive transaie is optional (for an extra $322). Other standard features of the Euro model are a firmer suspension for better handling, air conditioning, power door locks, power windows, three- spoke sport tilt steering wheel, cruse ontolAM/FM',cassette 'stereo, add-on rear spoiler (deletable), larger 15-inch wheels and tires, sport exhaust system, and dual manual remote mirrors. Base Drice of the Lumina Euro is $20,047. I thre'ssuchuangAt A Glanoe family car, this new Cheurolet is itfshndco mprr I'd recommend you order the optional four speed automatic overdrive transmission. The extra fourth gear will give you better gas mileage, especially on the highway. Standard instrumentation on the base Lumina is sadly lacking, consisting of an analogue speedometer, fuel gauge and a bunch of warning lights. Euro models have a more comprehen- sive analogue instrument panel that includes a tachometer, water temperature gauge, oul pressure gauge, odometer, trip odometer, fuel gauge and speedometer. For reasons of limited availability, the first Euro models te come off the assembly lime had the limi*ted instrumentation,> so watch out for this if you're shopping for a Euro. In my road tests of the Euro, I found the ride comfortable over most surfaces, and the handling firm and controllable. The four-wheel independent suspension bas no squeaks or rattles, and the car feels solid'and well-made. The 3.1-liter V6 bas a pleasant, rorty sound, and offers more than enough low-end torque, passing power and cruising ability. Braking is excellent thanks te four-wheel power cisc brakes. A couple-of small things coul4 use, some attention. As in the. other GM-10 cars, the accelerator pedal is, too far away from1 the driver. The front shoulder beit iW mounted- too Ihigh, and -cutE. uncomfortably across the driver's neck. And the right wiper blade, obstructs forward vision because it doesn't settle ail the way down during operation.ý ".' Overall though, the new Lumina is a welcome addition tc. the inid-size family sedan class. It- should provide considerabîf domestic competition for thE- popular Ford Taurus. AUUS SECAL W £L SOCK oST 1 ALE *ALL EAS* £4, I A I 5J. ~ ~ a U444~e 4444 I BIG SAVI