The Morning Call and Mcall.com's view

Well, the pundits were wrong.

Rumor had it just a couple years ago that Oldsmobile, America’s oldest surviving automotive nameplate, might be headed for the scrap heap of history. Thankfully, Olds has been making a big U-turn, scrapping old models and introducing world-class sheet metal.

For long-time Olds buyers, this change is somewhat dramatic, since this GM division now is targeting its products at import buyers. But even your old aunt Mary now drives a Camry, so this might not be so drastic a move as it appears.

Although there is still a Cutlass available, it will soon be consigned to history, along with the Toronado, 98, Cutlass Supreme, and Achieva.

For 1998, Olds’ mainstream is filled with the brand new Intrigue, a car aptly named.

For starters, this car is quiet, yet authoritative in an imported manner. This means minimal use of chrome and no grille. The styling is understated and very ’90s. Unlike most import sedans, however, it doesn’t sit down and die. The fenders bulge with muscular purpose over the wheel wells. The lighting is clear-lensed, giving the car a jewel-like appearance. The exhaust tips are chromed, a little touch that looks great.

There’s no vinyl roof or fake convertible roof option. But that’s why they invented Buicks.

Inside, the styling is as adept and up-to-the minute as any import. There’s no fake wood trim, merely shades of neutral beige styled in a pleasing upscale look. Unlike past practice, Olds offers this car one way only: bucket seats and a center console. There’s no bench seat or column-mounted transmission lever. Welcome to the 1990s Oldsmobile.

The test car’s seats were covered in an optional leather trim. They’re quite comfy, good even after hours in the saddle. An optional adjustable lumbar support would be nice, as the lower back area is a little weak. But otherwise, these are some of GM’s best seats. Space is pretty good in back as well, considering how much seat travel is allowed for passengers in the front. The result is an interior with more space than a Nissan Maxima or Ford Taurus.

The instrument cluster is simple, elegant and straightforward. Analog gauges are set under the binnacle in an easy-to-read fashion. No trickery or fake styling gimmicks.

Storage is quite good, with dual cup holders, map pockets and a center console. The test car lacked a front seat ashtray. A power point and additional storage were in its place.

The controls were easy to use. The dual-zone climate control allows the passenger and driver to pick different temperatures — a real marriage-saving device.

Steering wheel-mounted radio controls, automatic on-off headlamps, dash-mounted releases for the trunk and fuel tank are all options not afforded to most import buyers in this price range. The audio system was an excellent AM/ FM-cassette-CD system with great sound.

If the interior treatment is a picture of refinement, so is the drive train.

If this comes as any surprise — well, it is. It surprised the road testers at Car & Driver, who recently rated it better than a Camry or Taurus. Consumer Reports also recently praised its capabilities.

I’m inclined to agree. For a four-door sedan with import leanings, this has that refined comfortable/athletic feel of the Asian imports. There’s moderate body lean, but not so much as to have you slam-dancing against the door panels when carving through corners. The grip is quite good and, even as you push, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how well the Intrigue will hang-in there.

The suspension is all independent. Again, some imports, such as the Nissan Maxima or Infiniti I30, have a rear-beam axle. In more extreme handling maneuvers, the less-sophisticated rear axles can be a problem.

Go over a bump and there’s no trembling in the structure or rear hop, a real departure from past GM models. This is a solid car and, along with a ver sophisticated suspension setup, it handles frost heaves and potholes with the best of them.

When it comes to motivation, GM’s refined 3.8-liter V6 powers the Intrigue to the tune of 195 horsepower. Although they’ve tried to tune transmission shift points to feel more like an import, the engine’s incredible low-end grunt is hard to hide. It also has a somewhat gruff sound when revved.

But this engine will be replaced shortly by a six-cylinder version of Cadillac’s world class “Northstar” engine. The six, dubbed the “Shortstar,” will add the final touch to making this car a world-class ride.

The steering was quite quick, although GM’s “Magnasteer” (for magnetic power steering) is devoid of feel. The brakes, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, were excellent, stopping the car quickly, although some nose dive was evident.

Thanks should go to the optional Autobahn Package, which includes H-rated tires and bigger front disc rotors.

But you needn’t buy an Intrigue with the Autobahn Package to get good handling. You also don’t have to buy an import to get a car that handles well with good build quality.

If Oldsmobile keeps building cars this good, they might be able to put their name on the outside of the car. Now, it’s only on the inside. It’s almost as if they’re hiding.

Don’t miss this athletic, comfy import fighter. It’s quite good.

1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue GL Standard: 3800 V6 engine, four-speed automatic transmission, dual front air bags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, rear-window defogger, automatic power locks, intermittent wipers, P225/60R16 tires with aluminum wheels, front bucket seats with six-way-power driver’s seat, console with floor-mounted shifter, AM/FM-cassette six-speaker audio system with built-in clock, dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, floormats, illuminated entry, light package, heated, power outside mirrors, power windows with driver’s side autodown, leather armrest shift knob and steering wheel, tilt steering wheel, fog lamps, magnetic power steering, remote gas and trunk releases, keyless entry, split folding rear seat, trunk net, cup holders. Options: Leather seats, Autobahn Package, AM/FM-cassette-CD with automatic tone control, New York emissions, steering wheel controls for audio system. Base price: $22,100 As tested: $24,370 EPA rating: 19 mpg city, 30 mpg highway Test mileage: 21 mpg