Chevrolet Lumina

First Generation
1991-1994 Chevrolet Lumina Sedan
Overview
Production	January 1989–August 25, 1994[4]
Model years	1990–1994
Assembly	Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Designer	Irvin Rybicki (1985)
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door notchback coupe 4-door notchback sedan
Layout	FF layout
Platform	W-body
Related	Buick Regal Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Pontiac Grand Prix
Powertrain
Engine	2.2 L LN2 I4 2.5 L Iron Duke I4 3.1 L LH0 V6 3.4 L LQ1 V6
Transmission	5-speed Getrag 284 manual 3-speed 3T40 automatic 4-speed 4T60 automatic 4-speed 4T60-E automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	107.5 in (2,730 mm)
Length	1990 coupe: 198.4 in (5,039 mm) 1990 sedan: 197.6 in (5,019 mm) 1991–94 coupe & 1993–94 sedan: 198.3 in (5,037 mm) 1991–92 sedan & Z34 sedan: 199.3 in (5,062 mm)
Width	Coupe & Z34 sedan: 71.7 in (1,821 mm) sedan: 71.0 in (1,803 mm)
Height	Coupe & Z34 sedan: 53.3 in (1,354 mm) sedan: 53.6 in (1,361 mm)
Curb weight	3,496 lb (1,586 kg)

1990 Chevrolet Lumina sedan

1993 Chevrolet Lumina

1991-1994 Chevrolet Lumina Euro 3.4 sedan

The North American Chevrolet Lumina was based on the mid-size GM W-body, which was shared with the Pontiac Grand Prix, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (later Intrigue), Buick Regal, and Buick Century (after 1996).[5] Although the Lumina became a popular seller, GM was widely criticized in the motoring press for being late to the game in introducing a direct aero-designed competitor to the Ford Taurus.[6] The "Lumina" name was considered by Ford in the pre-production stage of the Taurus.[7] The Chevrolet Lumina's first generation ended production in August 1994, making this the shortest-lived generation of the first-generation GM W-body cars.[8]

Chevrolet Lumina in NASCAR in 1994

In 1989, the Lumina became the nameplate under which Chevrolets were raced in NASCAR, more than a year before the model was available to the public.[9] As a result, NASCAR received many letters complaining about the unfair advantage of Chevrolet racing an "aluminum" car.

Chevrolet signed a deal with Disney-MGM Studios to make the 1990 Lumina the company's Official Car.[10] Early Lumina ads included Disney animated characters from Fantasia under license from Disney; In return, the Lumina was made the official car of Disney World. In one sequence, advertising the car’s spacious interior, cartoon hippopotami were used to demonstrate the Lumina's wider rear door swings which Chevrolet claimed made for easier access to the rear seat area. While popular, the ads were soon cancelled when focus groups revealed that they remembered the Disney characters better than they remembered the car itself.

Lumina Z34

1991–1994 Chevrolet Lumina Z34

Starting in 1990, Chevrolet offered a high performance version of the Lumina, the Lumina Z34. It came standard with the FE3 sport suspension package, the 210 hp LQ1 V6 engine shared with the Lumina Euro 3.4 (sedan), the five-speed Getrag 284 manual transmission, dual exhaust, and four-wheel anti-lock brakes.

The Z34 also featured cosmetic changes to go along with the performance enhancements such as unique front and rear fascias, side skirts, a rear spoiler, a louvered hood, a unique steering wheel and sport bucket seats. Performance figures included a 0-60 mph (0–97 km/h) time of 7.2 seconds, a 1/4 mile (~400 m) time of 15.0 seconds, a (limited) top speed of 130 mph (209.21 km/h), a 60-0 mph (97–0 km/h) distance of in 153 ft (47 m), and a lateral acceleration of 0.79 g (7.7 m/s²). A Bose stereo system and automatic transmission, which lowered the horsepower rating to 200 and 0-60 time by .5 seconds, were optional. The only paint colors available for the Z34 were white, red, black, gray, silver, and light blue. In 1995, the Lumina Z34 was replaced with the Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34.

Second generation
Overview
Production	March 7, 1994 – April 26, 2001[4][12][13]
Assembly	Ramos Arizpe, Mexico Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Designer	Chuck Jordan (1990, 1991)
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door notchback sedan
Layout	FF layout
Platform	W-body 1.5 Gen
Related	Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Pontiac Grand Prix
Powertrain
Engine	3.1 L L82 V6 3.1 L LG8 V6 3.4 L LQ1 V6 3.8 L L36 V6
Transmission	4-speed 4T60-E automatic 4-speed 4T65-E automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	107.5 in (2,730 mm)[14]
Length	200.9 in (5,103 mm)
Width	72.5 in (1,842 mm)
Height	1995–98: 55.2 in (1,402 mm) 1999–2001: 54.8 in (1,392 mm)
Chronology
Successor	Chevrolet Caprice (in Mexico) Chevrolet Lumina (in Mexico) Chevrolet Lumina (in Mexico) Chevrolet Impala (elsewhere)

1995 Chevrolet Lumina LS rear

Chevrolet Lumina LTZ rear

General Motors began development of an updated Lumina in 1989, under chief engineer Norm Sholler, planned for a late 1992 launch. By 1991, a final body design was approved. Development eventually took longer than planned, delaying launch by 18 months. The redesigned Lumina was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 1994 as a 1995 model. The 1995 Lumina received a rounded body, increasing its size, as well as an updated interior. Unlike its other W platform counterparts, the Lumina retained the first-generation chassis. Replacing the Lumina two-door coupe was the resurrected Monte Carlo. The LH0 V6 was dropped in favor of the L82 V6, known as the 3100 SFI; the latter engine produced 20 more horsepower from the same displacement due to a revised intake manifold and cylinder heads.[15][16][17][18]

Initial trim levels consisted of base and LS; the latter replacing the "Euro" trim. Options included an electric sunroof, leather bucket seats, power windows, power driver seat, and an AM/FM stereo with CD player. This Lumina was also sold with police (code 9C3) and taxi packages, because the Chevrolet Caprice was discontinued after the 1996 model year. Production began on Monte Carlo coupes in February 1994 and March 7, 1994 for Lumina sedans at GM's Oshawa manufacturing plant, for a June 6, 1994 market launch for the 1995 model.[19]

The LTZ trim was introduced in 1996 for the 1997 model year because the Impala SS and Caprice were discontinued. Standard features included 16" brushed aluminum wheels, blackwall radial sport tires, sport tuned suspension, a 3.1 L V6 rated at 160 hp (119 kW) and 185 lb⋅ft (251 N⋅m) or an optional 3.4 L V6 rated at 215 hp (160 kW) and 220 lb⋅ft (298 N⋅m) of torque, a rear spoiler, restyled front and rear body clips (resembling the Monte Carlo Z34), a tachometer, and a floor-mounted shifter.

In 1997 for MY 1998, the 3.4 L V6 was replaced by the 3800 Series II which produced 200 hp (149 kW) and 225 lb⋅ft (305 N⋅m) of torque. Despite its increased torque, the 3.8 L LTZ demonstrated slightly worse performance due to its lowered horsepower, with 0-60 mph (0–97 km/h) times of 7.5 seconds (as opposed to 7.2 seconds for the LQ1) and 1/4 mile (~400 m) times of 15.7 seconds (as opposed to 15.5 seconds for the LQ1). The car has a computer-limited top speed of 107 mph (172 km/h) and the rev limiter kicks in at 5,800 rpm for the 3.8 L (rev limiter is at 7,000 rpm for the 3.4 L LQ1).

Also in 1997, the 1998 model year Luminas received second generation airbags. The front-wheel drive Chevrolet Impala was introduced as a replacement for the Lumina in 2000, although GM produced 2001 model year Luminas to be exclusively sold for rental fleets. Retail sales of the Lumina ended in Canada in 1999, with the United States following a year later. Fleet production ended on April 26, 2001. In some Asian countries, the Lumina continued as a rebadged Buick Century/Regal.

Third & fourth generation
2000–2001 Chevrolet Lumina SS sedan (third generation)
Overview
Production	1998–2013
Assembly	Elizabeth, South Australia (GM Holden Elizabeth Plant)
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FR layout
Platform	GM V platform (1998–2006) GM Zeta platform (2006–2013)
Related	Holden Commodore Chevrolet Omega Pontiac G8
Chronology
Successor	Chevrolet Malibu

Chevrolet Lumina LS

The Australian GM subsidiary, Holden, manufactured a third and fourth generation Lumina based on the rear-wheel drive Commodore (VX, VZ and VE series) sedan and Ute coupé utility.

This model was exclusively manufactured for export primarily to the Middle East and South Africa. Luxury specifications of these sedans were also exported in Brazil as the Chevrolet Omega.

High-performance models were powered by Chevrolet V8 engines, including the high specification Pontiac G8 based on the VE Series, exported to the United States.