Unlike its former self, which relied heavily upon shared parts from its mid-sized cousins, only the windshield, front doors, roof, rear liftgate, headliner, close out panels, rear panel trim and carpet will cross vehicle lines. The new Bravada is the first in its class to use a five-link rear suspension with electronically controlled air bladders to enhance suspension performance and provide superior load leveling. After an absence of nearly 20 years, GM brings an inline six engine back to the marketplace. Dubbed the Vortec 4200, the new I6 displaces 4.2 liters and features dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. The new Bravada's interior also grows, with additional front and rear legroom, shoulder and hip room.
Olds also turns up the coddle factor a notch with perforated leather seating, front and rear.
For the first time, Oldsmobile becomes the lead dog with a new GM platform, instead of taking the leftovers and rebadging them. With an inherently smooth inline six-cylinder developing comparable horsepower and torque of a V8, Bravada owners will still be able to pull the family travel trailer while getting decent fuel economy. Look for the 2002 Bravada to hit dealer showrooms in early 2001. New from the ground-up, the Bravada shares virtually no components with its counterparts. An abundant use of leather and wood add to the beauty of the interior.