Bench Seat Intrigue
These are some pics of an Oldsmobile Intrigue Interior which I have improved with Adobe Photoshop 4.0. I modified them to feature a 60/40 split bench seat, center storage armrest with cupholders and column shift, Shown here in Leather Trim. In my opinion it looks so much better and it is certianally more space efficient. The folding storage armrest would hold more than the bucket seat armrest. The column shifter features a compact design and doesn't require that clunky console. It also would give the car a feeling of being more spacoius. Actually a few cubic feet would be gained, but the illusion of space would be amplified by the clean flowing lines of the dash and seat stretching from door to door uninterupted by the abrupt middle shift. Unfortianately Oldsmobile doesn't offer this feature in current Intrigue's[a pity]. As far as I know they have no future plans to do so either.
I notice that the current trend for automakers is to not offer a bench seat in sporty cars such as the Intrigue and Oldsmobile is gradually doing away with them completely. I have seen some new cars with the split seats which I liked. Chevy Lumina LTZ looks good and the 3.8 delivers, but Lumina's are everywhere you turn. Anybody ever heard of a little thing called individuality? Pontiac's Grand Prix looks great except for the droopy front fascia on SE models. I like Dodge's new Intrepid too. Speaking of Intrepid's, I saw a nice '96 last week in a used car lot so I stopped to look it over. It was Majestic Teal(clearcoat, I think) with 3.5 V-6 and Spruce cloth interior with 50/50 split bench. I loved it, but the shame of it is I could buy a new one for just a few thousand more. I just wish Oldsmobile would take my advice to heart and offer the bench on the base model at least(maybe even with cloth only) Oldsmobile is no stranger to building such masterpices of design. Take the Cutlass Supreme. Especially in bright Red Wow! Every inch of that car was pure sport form the standard aluminun wheels and foglamps to monochromatic paint. A split bench was available at no cost on all but the most top of the line(series III) It's a shame the too weak and noisy 3.1 never lived up to the performance the bold exterior promised.

Let me know what you think. Should Olds offer this in Future Intrigue's?

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Other examples I have Made

Oldsmobile Alero-Since the alero is too small for true three across front seats, I made the console extend into where middle legroom would go.

Cutlass

Cars other than Oldsmobiles

Honda Accord

Chevy Malibu

Links

Ever seen an Intrigue Coupe?

My collection of vintage Oldsmobile Ads

Official Oldsmobile Site

Official Intrigue Site

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