Oldsmobile Touring Sedan

Oldsmobile introduced the Touring Sedan late in the 1987 model year, commemorating the 90th anniversary of the nameplate. 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 (approximately $54,251 in current dollars). The use of the name "touring sedan" was intended to evoke the companies historic vehicles during the 1910's and 1920's, when the company first introduced upscale products, such as the Autocrat, or the Model S that offered the touring sedan bodystyle.

As with Oldsmobile Toronado Troféo, the later Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan (STS) and the Eldorado Touring Coupe (ETC), the Touring Sedan was marketed towards 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 special 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, real burled walnut wood trim on the console and vent panel, and a full set of 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, the Touring Sedan saw few changes. Some of the available options that model year included engine block heater, remote fuel door release, automatic door locks and trunk pull down, power astroroof, audio choices, driver information system, and provisions for mobile telephone.

The 1989 model enjoyed several exterior revisions. The front and rear bumpers were now painted gray to match the special lower body cladding. A new 12 hole grill was fitted with matching gray paint and the headlamp bezels were painted gray to match. 16-inch "turbine" wheels (shared with the Toronado Troféo) became standard.[1] Extra cost options for 1989 included engine block heater, power astroroof, Delco/Bose audio system, and CD player. A redesigned steering wheel horn pad was also introduced including black rocker switches for the HVAC and audio system controls.[2]

Again for 1990, the Touring Sedan came equipped with many standard features; only engine block heater, power astroroof, 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. New import competitors added to the field that year included sedan models from Infiniti and Lexus.

For 1991, the Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight received a complete 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.