Post by Aurora40 on Jul 2, 2004 9:43:49 GMT -6
I wanted to get a list going to keep track of the various changes to the Aurora year-by-year. There are lots of changes from 1999 to 2001, but I wanted to focus mainly on 2001-2003.
If you have more info, post it up or message me and I'll just keep editing this post with the new info. Maybe we can make it a sticky if anyone else thinks it's useful.
So here are ones I am aware of. I thought production started in March of 2001, as that is what magazines said, but GM releases seem to indicate they started in January or February. Also, parts production may have started earlier than that. The V6 cars were the first ones to start, so maybe V8 production started in March?
2001 Model Year
- Dec 1999 to Feb 2000: Aurora's may experience glass etching and haze of headlamps due to sealant used. It was replaced by a cured sealant.
- February 21, 2000: "Aurora models built after February 21, 2000 use a new caster trail suspension, with new components such as lower control arms and spindles, that lessens the degree of caster on the car from six d e g rees to five degrees. This p rovides better handling without any adverse effects to the ride. There are differences in the alignment specifications between the models with the new suspension and earlier models." (quote taken from: service.gm.com/gmtechlink/arcv_pdf/5_00_e.pdf )
- July 17, 2000: Addition of OnStar components.
- Total production: 53,640
2002 Model Year
- New paint colors include Granite, Marine Blue. Dropped colors include Silvered Sage, Chestnut, Sapphire, Bronze Mist
- Interior colors dropped include Mint Parfait, and I thought there was a Sage color dropped?
- Chromed exhaust tips
- Navigation radio available
- 3.5L EPA rating decreases from 19/28 to 18/27
- 4.0L EPA rating increases from 17/25 to 18/26
- Total production: 10,865 (2,289 V8's)
2003 Model Year
- New paint colors include Steel Blue, Bordeaux Red. Dropped colors include Cherry Metallic. Collector's Edition offered in Dark Cherry Metallic.
- 3.5L V6 version dropped
- 4.0 gets steel trunklid with insert (the V6 trunk). It is noticeably heavier, but feels more solid when you close it. This trunk style was the original style for the Aurora. The aluminum trunk on the 4.0 was to get closer to the weight goal
- 4.0 gets polymer coated pistons and forged steel crankshaft
- 4T80-E gets calibration improvements for garage shifting: www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=6&q=http://media.gm.com/division/powertrain/products/transmission/2003/auto_benefits/mh1.doc&e=7207
- New navigation radio offered, can be had in combination with Bose stereo
- Collector's Edition available. 500 produced. Included unique paint color, unique 17" wheels (from the STS), and badging on engine, door sills, front fender and rear deck. Embroidered logo on front seatbacks and floormats
- Total production: ~7,900
If you have more info, post it up or message me and I'll just keep editing this post with the new info. Maybe we can make it a sticky if anyone else thinks it's useful.
So here are ones I am aware of. I thought production started in March of 2001, as that is what magazines said, but GM releases seem to indicate they started in January or February. Also, parts production may have started earlier than that. The V6 cars were the first ones to start, so maybe V8 production started in March?
2001 Model Year
- Dec 1999 to Feb 2000: Aurora's may experience glass etching and haze of headlamps due to sealant used. It was replaced by a cured sealant.
- February 21, 2000: "Aurora models built after February 21, 2000 use a new caster trail suspension, with new components such as lower control arms and spindles, that lessens the degree of caster on the car from six d e g rees to five degrees. This p rovides better handling without any adverse effects to the ride. There are differences in the alignment specifications between the models with the new suspension and earlier models." (quote taken from: service.gm.com/gmtechlink/arcv_pdf/5_00_e.pdf )
- July 17, 2000: Addition of OnStar components.
- Total production: 53,640
2002 Model Year
- New paint colors include Granite, Marine Blue. Dropped colors include Silvered Sage, Chestnut, Sapphire, Bronze Mist
- Interior colors dropped include Mint Parfait, and I thought there was a Sage color dropped?
- Chromed exhaust tips
- Navigation radio available
- 3.5L EPA rating decreases from 19/28 to 18/27
- 4.0L EPA rating increases from 17/25 to 18/26
- Total production: 10,865 (2,289 V8's)
2003 Model Year
- New paint colors include Steel Blue, Bordeaux Red. Dropped colors include Cherry Metallic. Collector's Edition offered in Dark Cherry Metallic.
- 3.5L V6 version dropped
- 4.0 gets steel trunklid with insert (the V6 trunk). It is noticeably heavier, but feels more solid when you close it. This trunk style was the original style for the Aurora. The aluminum trunk on the 4.0 was to get closer to the weight goal
- 4.0 gets polymer coated pistons and forged steel crankshaft
- 4T80-E gets calibration improvements for garage shifting: www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=6&q=http://media.gm.com/division/powertrain/products/transmission/2003/auto_benefits/mh1.doc&e=7207
- New navigation radio offered, can be had in combination with Bose stereo
- Collector's Edition available. 500 produced. Included unique paint color, unique 17" wheels (from the STS), and badging on engine, door sills, front fender and rear deck. Embroidered logo on front seatbacks and floormats
- Total production: ~7,900