Oldsmobile Toronado
Mechanically almost identical to the Cadillac Eldorado, the Oldsmobile Toronado was dramatically new for 1979. The new Toronado featured 22 22-inch shorter chassis with different body and engine choices in a downsizing effort that affected all GM products. The downsizing was not just simply shortening last year’s model and Toronado’s proper engineering and production methods. The result was a much more compact and efficient car with the same level of comfort and driving dynamics (via Auto Evolution).
Retaining its signature front-wheel drive layout, the Toronado now featured 350 V8. As well as an exciting and innovative but not precisely durable diesel version. Due to the unique front and rear end and some options, Toronado kept its identity compared to the very similar Eldorado.