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The Oldsmobile Touring Sedan is a full-size car manufactured and marketed by Oldsmobile from 1987 to 1993 across two generations as a variation of the Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight, soley as a four-door sedan. Commemorating Oldsmobile's 90th anniversary, the model differentiated Oldsmobile from Buick and targeted European competition.

Oldsmobile Touring Sedan
1989 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan
Overview
Manufacturer	Oldsmobile (General Motors)
Also called	Oldsmobile 98 Touring Sedan
Production	1987–1990 (model) 1991–1993 (trim level)
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Body style	4-door sedan
Chronology
Successor	Oldsmobile Aurora

Both generations used the front-wheel drive GM C-platform. The Touring Sedan was discontinued after 1993; the model line was functionally replaced by the GM H-platform Oldsmobile LSS and the GM G-platform Oldsmobile Aurora.

Model history

1987–1990

Oldsmobile introduced the Touring Sedan late in the 1987 model year. Officially designated the W12 option package and with its own VIN identification, it was a separate model from the Ninety-Eight sedan. The Oldsmobile Touring sedan carried a base price of just over $24,000 USD (equivalent to $57,500 in 2021). The designation "touring sedan" evoked the company's vehicles from the 1910s and 1920s, when the company first introduced upscale products, including the Autocrat, or the Model S that offered the touring sedan body style.

As with Oldsmobile Toronado Troféo, the later Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan (STS) and the Eldorado Touring Coupe (ETC), the Touring Sedan targeted buyers of import luxury sports sedans, including the Audi 5000, BMW 735i, Mercedes-Benz 300E and Acura Legend.[1]

While sharing the LN3 165 hp 3.8L V6 and 4-speed automatic transmission with the Ninety-Eight and Toronado, Oldsmobile equipped the standard suspension of the Touring Sedan with the FE3 touring car ride and handling package (also referred to as "Level 3" or Sport Suspension). It included a larger 32MM front stabilizer bar, an added 18MM rear stabilizer bar, firmer suspension bushings, stiffer springs at all corners, upgraded struts, 15" wheels, performance tires and a special steering gear. It also included the Teves four-wheel anti-lock brake system.[1][2]

Externally the Touring Sedan used cloisonné badges on the hood, C pillars and rear panel.[1][2] The lower body was distinguished by model specific dark gray cladding, and fog lamps were standard.[1][2] The interior was significantly different and became the first five-passenger version of the Ninety-Eight with a center floor console with floor shifter. The Touring Sedan was fitted with custom 16-way power Lear Siegler leather bucket seats, genuine burl walnut veneer interior accents, and a full set of analog instruments with a 120-mph speedometer, tachometer, oil, volts, coolant temp, and fuel gauges.[1] The rear seat included an armrest and head restraints.[2]

For 1988, available options included engine block heater, remote fuel door release, automatic door locks and trunk pull down, power moonroof, audio choices, driver information system, and provisions for mobile telephone.

The 1989 model featured gray-painted front and rear bumpers to match the special lower body cladding. A 12 hole grill and headlamp bezels used a matching gray paint. 16-inch "turbine" wheels (shared with the Toronado Troféo) became standard.[1] Extra cost options for 1989 included engine block heater, power moonroof, Delco/Bose audio system, and CD player. A redesigned steering wheel included redundant HVAC and audio controls.[2]

Again for 1990, standard features included engine block heater, with power moonroof, and audio choices were extra cost options. The illuminated steering wheel control buttons now matched the interior color. Also now standard were the auto down driver's window, keyless entry and an electrochromic (auto dimming) rear view mirror.

1991–1993

For 1991, the Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight received a redesign of its exterior and interior. In place of a stand-alone model line, the Touring Sedan was reintroduced as a performance-oriented trim level, becoming the Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Touring; the Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight received a similar variant, designated the LSS (Luxury Sports Sedan). Slotted alongside the Regency as the top-trim Ninety-Eight, the Touring was offered with five-passenger seating and alloy wheels (shared with the LSS).[1] The two-tone body of the previous generation was replaced with a monochromatic exterior (including a body-color grille); all chrome trim was deleted (with the exception of badging).

For 1992, a 205 hp supercharged version of the 3.8L V6 became an option (in line with the Buick Park Avenue Ultra, Pontiac Bonneville SSEi, and Oldsmobile LSS); the naturally-aspirated 3.8L V6 produced 170 hp[1]

After the 1993 model year, Oldsmobile removed the Touring trim from the Ninety-Eight model line. While developed as the direct successor of the two-door Toronado, the four-door Aurora also closely matched the Ninety-Eight in size; leading Oldsmobile to consolidate the model line with the 88 after 1996. The similar LSS remained in production from 1991 to 1999.

Production

A total of 34,235 Touring Sedans were built, with 1988 and 1989 being the years of greatest production.

Model year	Production[1][3]
1987	3,985
1988	8,531
1989	7,193
1990	5,566
1991	4,280
1992	2,795
1993	1,885
TOTAL	34,235

See also

• Oldsmobile 98
• Oldsmobile Trofeo

References

• Setting the Pace: Oldsmobie's First 100 Years, pg 484-487.

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