Post by Aurora40 on Jul 18, 2004 19:47:16 GMT -6
2001 AURORA ACHIEVES GREATER
RIGIDITY, RIDE WITH
NEW PERFORMANCE CHASSIS
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.
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. Thrubolted
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.
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
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
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
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.”
