No one can stop the slow march of time, but we can preserve things for the future – or we can choose to let them rot away. Unfortunately, it looks like GM chose the latter path for the 1990 Cadillac Aurora, as recently spotted at a scrap yard at the General Motors Milford Proving Grounds. The next stop is likely the scrap yard.
For those that may be unaware, the Cadillac Aurora is a concept vehicle that was first unveiled at the 1990 Chicago Auto Show, presenting Cadillac’s bold vision for the future in terms of design and technology. The Aurora features a 4.5L V8 engine rated at 200 horsepower, as well as a distinctive, aerodynamic shape that hinted at the next era of luxury sedans.
Highlight features of the Aurora include a longitudinally mounted engine and all-wheel drive, a notable departure from the transverse, front-wheel drive configurations that were typical of its time. Although GM declined to put the Cadillac Aurora concept into production, the powertrain, interior design, and name were eventually applied to the Oldsmobile Aurora, a series production vehicle introduced in 1995. The exterior design also provided inspiration for the European Opel Omega B, which was sold in North America as the Cadillac Catera. What’s more, the Aurora briefly starred in the 1993 movie “Demolition Man,”, where the streamlined design worked to bolster the movie’s futuristic setting.
Despite its history, recent photographs reveal the Cadillac Aurora concept in a state of neglect, with visible damage and decay, surrounded by disused examples of the Buick LaCrosse and Chevy Malibu. As we can see, the concept car is dented and scratched, the side mirror crunched in and the side panels rubbing against the adjacent Buick. Clearly, GM doesn’t really care to preserve this unique concept as a museum piece.
1990 Cadillac Aurora Concept (Press Photo)
Although the future for the Cadillac Aurora remains somewhat uncertain, all signs point to this thing being flattened. Which leads us to ask – should GM preserve this concept, instead? Or is it not worth the effort? Let us know by posting in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac news, GM design news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Hey, who parked their one and only Cadillac Aurora so close to this Buick and my Malibu?
Is there anything special about the Buick LaCrosse or the Chevrolet Malibu next to the Cadillac?
I was wondering about that too. Not as far as I can see.
Why don’t they sell it to someone who will restore it.
It is likey that the costs to produce, maintain, and show this vehicle were fully written off as business expenses under the various tax codes at the time. Concept and show car programs in the 80’s and 90’s typically cost multi millions, with many components coming from suppliers with their own tax implications. To outright sell it now would negate those previous tax considerations and would need to be accounted for with interest. Any sale now on this would be insignificant verses the long ago realized taxation. Real question is why this wasn’t already scrapped by now, was it so buried under junk in a warehouse somewhere that is just being cleaned out now, or was it someone at GM’s pet project with an emotional attachment they hid for years to use as a retirement party prop.
This is the GM Proving Grounds junk yard. Some other notable finds in there is an original AUTOnomy skateboard.
42.579339, -83.661026
There is nothing special about most of products in there. They end up being in their because theyre non-saleable and/or liabilities.
Most cars in that lot only last for at most a year, but there are exceptions. The Cadillac Aurora concept is non something worth saving, but I cant help but admit, its hard to see a concept die.
To me, the exterior screams Cadillac Catera, which arrived many years after this concept. Check out some photos of the car when it debuted on the auto show circuit. The interior definitely strongly resembles the eventual 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora interior – which was – and still is beautiful.
Yes – the Cadillac Catera is based off of the German Opel Omega B from the mid 90’s. One company!
Yep, absolutely. Badge engineering!
The where the C in CTS and so on come from. Catera Touring Sedan. The model from German was do bad G.M. had to redo it with more of a American style/power and just call it CTS.
Can I have the seats out of it? I’ll put them into my father’s Ford Focus. )
How does one drive either the Buick or Malibu when they’re parked so close? Even towing could be an issue. This photo is a black mark on GM if it goes viral.
It’s NOT…GM refusing to make it a museum piece or it’s not city hall or it’s not government…
It’s a person at GM… someone in upper management who doesn’t want to save the car or it’s someone at city hall who decides to do whatever under the guise of city hall or it’s one of your elected employees in Congress…yeah yeah… semitics…
Didn’t this more or less morph into a late-90’s Oldsmobile?
You’re right it does look as if Oldsmobile did gained some influence from this design to an extent, especially with the Achieva model.
Chuck Jordan was the Design Staff head at the time. For whatever reason the guy was trying to push those wretched “clipped” rear wheel wells to all the marketing divisions. A design feature WAY past it’s prime.
None-the-less that design found its way onto the Olds Achieva sedan (derisively called Under Achieva within GM) and the Buick Skylark compact N platform products. Also the 91’ “beached whale” Caprice and the 91’ Olds 98.
I remember seeing the Achieva and Skylark on the patio at DS a year before SOP and I thanked my lucky stars the division I was in didn’t have to sell those dogs.
And the Roadmaster, DeVille and Fleetwood and some Holdens too I think, the Mercury Sable had it in 1986.
Mary Barra needs to smarten up and make a few bucks for GM. Auction it and any other GM vehicles, no matter what condition they’re in. Then she should shave 90% of her obscene salary. She killed the Volt, and now GM’s bringing back the hybrids. She took GM from being ahead of the hybrid curve to dead last.
give me the malibu & lacrosse plz
This car represents the massive design mistake by GM resulting in the 1991 Models of Cadillac, Olds and Chevrolet Caprice with the semi-skirted rear wheel opening. The Cadillac Seville & STS and Pontiac and Bonneville, Buick avoided the damage. The Olds Aurora in 1995 carried much of the design without the rear wheel opening mistake and proved to be a great car although it was constrained with the 250HP 4L Northstar engine. I believe if it had the 4.6L it would have sold much better. It had a great interior, dash and other features similar to the Olds Touring Sedan of the late 80’s through 1991.
Just saw your comment Carl. See my comment above.
I agree 100% except the Buick Skylark was also a complete mess of a design.
Yep, the Skylark sucked too! Probably some more. I owned an ’89 Olds Touring Sedan that was a great car but just a bit short on power. When the ’91’s came out my dealer ordered one in with the same colors for exterior and interior and begged me to buy it and offered me an incredible deal but I just couldn’t handle the poor design changes. The designers at GM who came up with that design program should have been sent to the back of the class!
Flatten it.
I owned an Oldsmobile Aurora and loved it.
Restore and preserve it…!!!
Tail lights look like they were stolen from a ’90’s Trans AM. Side view looks like a 94 Caprice. Glad I didn’t see the front facia.
all im saying is it would be REALLY funny if someone stole it and saved it, not saying i WANT that but it would be REALLY funny if someone did
The only thing this shares with the Oldsmobile Aurora is the name, the Olds was developed from a different styling concept from 1987-88 nicknamed the “Tube Car” internally.
This was yet another, maybe the first, BMW/Mercedes and now possibly Lexus “beater” concept from Cadillac of so many others that went no where. I believe this sort of E/5 series sized and RWD with a 32 valve 4-something litre V8.
It is a Damn shame all of the operable concepts (good/ bad/ ugly), whatever the opinions are for such cars. I strongly believe the automotive manufacturers should allow these unwanted and deteriorating concepts to cross the auction block. There are plenty of private collectors, such as Jay Leno, that have the funds to restore and preserve such concept vehicles. I understand not saving a concept WITHOUT a powertrain, but this is just shameful. IMO, think about the Chrysler Turbine. None of those were ever supposed to leave Chrysler grounds after the program ended, and some did go to museums (without the turbine powertrain) look at Harley Earls personal Buick concept, he was allowed to use it as his daily driver to bring attention to the brand. Rolling Clay concepts, rolling wood frame concepts don’t need to be saved, and yet some are. I just recently saw a rolling wood/resin/fiberglass concept sell on BAT. And that particular vehicle should have gone to the crusher. I’ll never understand why the auto manufacturers destroy their rolling/drive able concept vehicle. I would imagine some would fetch towards 6, maybe even 7 figures if they had a chance to auction them rather than letting them rot & ultimately crushing them. Just my opinion.
Poor Design reaps a crushing defeat
It looks more Cadillac than the CTfive. Am I the only one here who likes this design?