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 for the Ninety-Eight sedan, the Oldsmobile Touring sedan carried a base price of just over $24,000 USD (approximately $54,011 in current dollars).

As with Oldsmobile Troféo and the later Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan (STS) and Eldorado Touring Coupe (ETC), the Touring Sedan was a performance-oriented derivative of an existing GM model line marketed towards buyers of European luxury sports sedans, including the Audi 5000, BMW 735i, and Mercedes-Benz 300E.[1]

While sharing the 165 hp 3.8L V6 (and 4-speed automatic transmission) of the Ninety-Eight (and Toronado), Oldsmobile upgraded the handling of the Touring Sedan with the use of a stiffer FE3 touring suspension (shared with the Troféo), which added larger stabilizer bars; Teves four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS) was included.[1][2]

Externally, the Touring Sedan was not badged or advertised as a Ninety-Eight, with Oldsmobile using special badges for the model.[1][2] The lower body was distinguished by dark gray body cladding and revised bumper covers; fog lamps were standard.[1][2] The interior underwent several revisions; to become the first five-passenger version of the Ninety-Eight, the Touring Sedan was fitted with custom 6-way Lear Siegler leather bucket seats, a floor-mounted transmission shifter with a floor console, real burled walnut wood trim, and a full set of instruments (tachometer, 120-mph speedometer, oil, volts, coolant temp, and fuel gauges).[1] The rear seat was redesigned to include individually-reclining seatbacks and head restraints.[2]

For 1988, the Touring Sedan saw few major changes. For 1989, the model line underwent an exterior revision, with all chrome exterior trim painted black; 16-inch wheels (shared with the Troféo) became standard.[1] A redesigned steering wheel was introduced (including controls for climate and stereo systems). Alongside the Delco-Bose cassette player, a CD player became an option.[2]

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, itself replaced by the 2001 Aurora.