Little ornamentation mars the exterior. Shape and stance communicate the '01 Aurora's luxurious sportiness. As is the outside, it is tasteful, restrained, refined. Wood trim is real lumber, not plastic. Controls are handy and pleasant to operate.
Gauges are big, round, easy on the eyes.
Seats got extraordinary attention. Olds veteran Douglas Stott, Aurora's assistant brand manager, says Olds tried many seats before deciding on the look and feel. A hint of craftsmanship upstages soulless, computerized sameness. The test was during winter storms and their aftermath. Little dry pavement amid piles of badly plowed snow meant no chance to really fling the test cars.