Post by Aurora40 on Jan 2, 2006 14:41:58 GMT -6
2001 AURORA ACHIEVES GREATER RIGIDITY, RIDE WITH NEW PERFORMANCE CHASSIS [/i]
With a trimmer body and retuned suspension, the new Aurora is more responsive and balanced than ever before.
“You don’t just drive an Aurora, you experience it,” said John Gatt, brand manager, Aurora. “And that experience has to epitomize luxury and control if we are going to continue to pull consumers away from Japanese and European imports.”
The Height of Structural Integrity
The first challenge in enhancing the 2001 Aurora’s ride agility and road manners was to create a body structure that would provide maximum driver confidence and control. Using state-of-the-art technology and analytical systems, designers have incorporated a multitude of refinements into Oldsmobile’s new flagship.
More Balanced
Enhancing Ride Agility and Road Manners
One-piece side rings with integral quarters
eliminate rear pillar seams and contribute to precise door fit and finish quality. A new cast magnesium beam integrates the instrument panel and steering column solidly into the body structure. New lateral tie bars in the front end and shock towers integrated into the dash further stiffen the front structure. Thru-bolted door hinges and thick spacer blocks help secure door hinges.
The result of these efforts is a significantly lighter body structure that is optimized for mass distribution, strength and rigidity. This allows the suspension to work precisely as designed, without having to compensate for unwanted flexing and twisting of the body.
Lighter and Tighter Flagship
The 2001 Aurora’s new body rides on a 112.2-inch wheelbase with an overall length of 199.3 inches. Compared to the previous Aurora, the wheelbase is 1.6 inches shorter while the overall length has been reduced by 6.1 inches.
The 2001 Aurora also is significantly trimmer. The 4.0 has been reduced by 165 lbs. compared to the original Aurora, while the
3.5 is 285 lbs. lighter.
With a tighter body and lower weight, the 2001 Aurora is significantly more agile and responsive.
Structural Refinements
Suspension Benefits
Reduced Length
Reduced Weight
Providing Inspiring Responsiveness
Up front, the low-friction MacPherson struts are fitted with soft entry rebound springs to eliminate crash-through and control extreme body motions. Redesigned front suspension geometry combined with retuned bushings greatly improve steering response and cornering capability.
The rear suspension’s lateral links control wheel alignment for stability under high cornering loads. The semi-trailing arm design virtually eliminates “diving” under hard braking. Lightweight aluminum front and rear control arms and knuckles help minimize mass.
The combination of high spring rates and smaller-diameter stabilizer bars gives the new Aurora a more uniform response to steering inputs. Struts and shocks are tuned to dampen body roll.
A redesigned intermediate shaft connects the steering wheel to the steering gear and gives a more direct feel of the road while still blocking harshness and vibration. The elastomeric material that provides controlled isolation is santopreme and is surrounded by tight-tolerance aluminum fittings. The gear itself is rigidly mounted to the front cradle at the left end to resist lateral compliance.
Behind the wheel, the driver can immediately feel the difference. The Aurora’s patented Magnasteer speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion system uses an electronically controlled magnetic field to
Refined Suspension
Stability & Control
Responsive Steering
Redesigned Intermediate Shaft
Greater Driver Control
increase or decrease steering effort as needed. If the Precision Control System is engaged, the steering effort is increased to provide greater driver control.
“The Aurora is, and always has been, a driver’s car,” said Gatt. “Behind the wheel the driver is always in control - in corners, on a straightaway, or even in a panic stop or hazardous conditions.”
Unmatched Stability and Control
With a more responsive and tighter chassis comes stability. But the most significant enhancements to vehicle stability are traction control and the new Precision Control System (PCS).
Aurora’s traction control system uses both torque reduction and front brake applications to avoid wheel spinning and slippage during slippery road conditions.
The PCS utilizes a series of sensors and a central microprocessor to enhance cornering stability during adverse driving circumstances. In the case of dramatic understeer, the inside front brake is automatically engaged to bring the car back under control. To correct oversteer, the outside front brake is applied. The entire system is monitored electronically, requiring no driver intervention.
Traction control and the Precision Control System are standard on the 4.0 and available as an option on the 3.5.
To help deliver on the promise of stability and control, the
Traction Control System
Precision Control System
Aurora 4.0 is equipped with hefty P235/55 HR-17 tires, while the Aurora 3.5 is running on P225/60 HR-16 tires.
“We want Aurora drivers to feel in complete control of the road, and the car, at all times,” said Gatt. “From the structural integrity, to the enhanced steering, to the traction control and PCS systems, the 2001 Aurora has been designed with unparalleled stability and control.”
The Luxury of Silence
In addition to outstanding structural integrity, the 2001 Aurora represents a manufacturing and design breakthrough in noise reduction. “A quiet ride is an essential ingredient for a world-class luxury car,” said Gatt. “Our customers don’t want to be bothered or distracted by noise - not from the road, or the car. It’s arguably the most important measure of quality.”
Inside the Aurora, most chassis components are rubber isolated to minimize squeaks, rattles and other unwanted noises. The rubber isolation also reduces metal friction at the structural joints, increasing the lifespan of the internal frame and providing a more solid, luxurious ride.
All appropriate body cavities are filled with expandable baffles to eliminate unwanted noise. These baffles undergo a series of tests to ensure effectiveness in noise reduction, as well as to help minimize vibrations or reverberations. To complete these tough tests, the entire ventilation system is pressurized, where precise
Hefty Tires
Noise Reduction
Minimized Vibrations & Reverberations
analytical equipment measures any leaks in air and noise.
The dash panel is comprised of five-layer noise buffer: one fiberglass insulation mat; a viscoelastic energy-absorbing layer; a double steel panel; and finally, a single piece dash mat.
Engineers also went to great lengths to reduce road noise from the floor pan and wheel wells. In addition to a cast foam carpet system, more than 20 noise blockers are built into the Aurora’s pillar and rocker cavities, and across the floor pan. Even the roof utilizes a two-layer insulator to keep the Aurora’s interior quiet and tranquil.
Responsive Luxury
The 2001 Aurora’s lighter weight, slightly trimmer dimensions, improved steering and suspension systems add up to a new Oldsmobile flagship that’s significantly more agile and responsive.
“The Aurora has always led the way in terms of what we stand for and where we are going as a division,” said Karen Francis, general manager, Oldsmobile. “As Oldsmobile’s new flagship, the 2001 Aurora combines luxurious style with responsive performance for a gratifying driving experience.”
Five-layer Noise Buffer
Quiet and Tranquil Interior
Luxurious Style with Responsive Performance
