Its front-wheel drive layout and all-new Lotus engineered 140-hp 2.2-L ECOTEC I-4, replacing last year's 2.4-L 4-cylinder engine, add to its continental flavor. Output has decreased by 10-hp and torque now 5 lb-ft less - 150 compared to 155 lb-ft. Still the new engine is better, with freer revs and smoother overall operation. A Getrag 5-speed transmission is standard, and relatively smooth to shift. As good as it is the majority of Alero's sold go out the door with the 4-speed automatic, optional with the 4-cylinder and the only choice in V6 powered cars. Unlike the Pontiac, only a single V6 is offered in the Olds. It's a 170-hp 3.4-L unit with 200 lb-ft of torque - adequate for zipping the 1,361 kg (3,001 lb) coupe or 1,387 kg (3,058 lb) sedan to highway speeds in short order. Incidentally, the lightest coupe is the GX at 1,310 kg (2,888 lb) while the GX sedan weighs in at 1,338 kg (2,950 lb).
Now that we're talking about trim levels the Alero coupe and sedan are available in three, including the aforementioned GX, the slightly more upscale GL and the top-of-the-line GLS. The base GX includes a 6-speaker AM/FM stereo with CD, air-conditioning, tilt steering wheel, left-side remote mirror, power locks, power remote trunk release, auto headlights, cruise control with steering wheel controls and 70/30 split-folding rear seatbacks. Standard seating surfaces are cloth while GL models receive premium cloth. Leather is standard with the GLS package. The GX and GL also include a manually operated 4-way driver's seat with power height adjustment while the GLS gets a 6-way power driver's seat. GL and GLS models also add dual power mirrors, keyless entry and power windows. Over and above this the GLS adds fog lights and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift knob and parking brake handle (all optional on the GL), a 200-watt 8-speaker Monsoon audio system and GM's Enhanced Traction System (ETS).
Stand alone options include a $265 cassette equipped AM/FM/CD audio system, $360 sports handling package, $170 gold accent package and a $950 power glass sunroof adding $1,745 to the $28,355 price of the non-optioned GLS for a total of $30,100 - identical for both sedan and coupe.