The Chevrolet Lumina is a mid-size car that was produced and marketed by Chevrolet from the 1990 to 2001 model years. Serving as the combined successor for both the Chevrolet Celebrity and Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the Lumina was sold as both a two-door coupe and a four-door sedan. Serving as the largest front-wheel drive Chevrolet, the model line was slotted below the Caprice Classic in the Chevrolet line.
For the first time, Chevrolet did not produce a mid-size station wagon, with Chevrolet instead marketing the Chevrolet Lumina APV minivan (sharing only its name with the mid-size cars). The Lumina coupe (in reconfigured form) served as the Chevrolet entry in stock-car racing, with the Lumina Z34 replacing the previous Monte Carlo SS.
The final model released of the GM10 platform (today, GM W platform), the Lumina shares design commonality with the Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and Pontiac Grand Prix, introduced as part of the transition of its divisional counterparts to front-wheel drive.
During its two generations of production, the Chevrolet Lumina was assembled by GM Canada in its Oshawa Car Assembly facility (Oshawa, Ontario). For 2000, Chevrolet revived the Chevrolet Impala nameplate for a redesigned W-body sedan, with fleet sales of the Lumina ending after the 2001 model year.
Outside of North America (primarily the Middle East and South Africa), the Chevrolet Lumina nameplate was used from 1998 to 2013 on rebranded versions of the Holden Commodore; a Lumina coupe was derived from the Holden Monaro from 2003 to 2006. Chevrolet Philippines marketed the Lumina from 2005 to 2006, using a rebranded version of the SAIC-GM-produced Buick Regal.
First generation (1990)
The North American Chevrolet Lumina was based on the mid-size GM10 platform, which was shared with the Pontiac Grand Prix, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and Buick Regal. Although the Lumina became a popular seller, GM was widely criticized in the motoring press for being late to the game in introducing a direct aero-designed competitor to the Ford Taurus. The "Lumina" name was considered by Ford in the pre-production stage of the Taurus. Both body styles were available in base and sporty Euro trim, which was a successor to the Celebrity Eurosport.
Airbags were not yet available at the time of introduction so seat belts were installed in the front doors as "passive restraints". These belts were connected to the upper and lower portions of the front doors, and could remain latched while allowing front passengers the ability to enter and exit the vehicle without removing them. This technically satisfied US Government regulations concerning passive occupant safety requirements. GM was criticized for the lack of airbags in Lumina, by 1993 the Ford Taurus, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry all came equipped with at least one front airbag.
The coupe and sedan were installed with MacPherson front struts, while the rear suspension used Chapman struts and a transverse-mounted fiberglass leaf spring, borrowing an approach used from the Chevrolet Corvette (C4) rear suspension.
The Chevrolet Lumina's first generation ended production in August 1994, making this the shortest-produced generation of the first-generation GM10 cars.
Lumina Z34
Starting in 1990, Chevrolet offered a high-performance version of the Lumina, the Lumina Z34. It came standard with the FE3 sport suspension package, the LQ1 V6 engine shared with the Lumina Euro 3.4 (sedan), the 5-speed Getrag 284 manual transmission, dual exhaust, and 4-wheel anti-lock brakes.
The Z34 also featured cosmetic changes to go along with the performance enhancements such as unique front and rear fascias, side skirts, a rear spoiler, a louvered hood, a unique steering wheel, and sport bucket seats, and an optional Bose stereo system.
Performance figures included a 0-60 mph (0–97 km/h) time of 7.1 seconds, a 1/4 mile (~400 m) time of 15.5 seconds, a (limited) top speed of 113 mph, and a lateral acceleration of 0.79 g (7.7 m/s²). The optional Hydramatic 4T60-E automatic transmission lowered the horsepower rating to and 0-60 times by .5 seconds. The only paint colors available for the Z34 were white, red, black, gray, silver, and Maui Blue (added in 1993). In 1995, the Lumina Z34 was replaced with the Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34.
Engines 1990–1992: Iron Duke I4 1993: 122 I4 1990–1994: LHO V6 1991–1994: LQ1 V6
Production YearSedansCoupesSedan LQ1Coupe LQ1 (Z34) 1990 278,311 45,783 N/A N/A 1991 157,782 34,495 N/A 8,936 1992 188,557 33,490 5,623 13,016 1993 200,842 29,916 3,489 12,323 1994 75,753 10,866 1,234 4,478 Total productionThe Encyclopedia of American Cars, 2006 Edition 901,245 154,550
Second generation (1995)
General Motors began the development of an updated Lumina in 1989, under chief engineer Norm Sholler, planned for a late 1992 launch. By 1991, a final body design was approved. Development eventually took longer than planned, delaying the launch by 18 months. The redesigned Lumina was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 1994 as a 1995 model. The 1995 Lumina received a rounded body, increasing its size, as well as an updated interior. Unlike its other W platform counterparts, the Lumina retained the first-generation chassis. Replacing the Lumina two-door coupe was the resurrected Monte Carlo. The LH0 V6 was dropped in favor of the L82 V6, known as the 3100 SFI; the latter engine produced 20 more horsepower from the same displacement due to a revised intake manifold and cylinder heads.
Initial trim levels consisted of base and LS; the latter replacing the "Euro" trim. Options included an electric sunroof, leather bucket seats, power windows, a power driver seat, and an AM/FM stereo with a CD player. This Lumina was available with police (code 9C3) and taxi packages, because the Chevrolet Caprice was discontinued after the 1996 model year. Production began on Monte Carlo coupes in February 1994 and March 7, 1994 for Lumina sedans at GM's Oshawa manufacturing plant, for a June 6, 1994 market launch for the 1995 model.
The LTZ trim was introduced in 1996 for the 1997 model year because the Impala SS and Caprice were discontinued. Standard features included 16" brushed aluminum wheels, blackwall radial sport tires, sport tuned suspension, a 3.1 L V6 rated at and or an optional 3.4 L V6 rated at and of torque, a rear spoiler, restyled front and rear body clips (resembling the Monte Carlo Z34), a tachometer, and a floor-mounted shifter.
For 1998, the 3.4 L V6 was replaced by the 3800 Series II which produced and of torque. Despite its increased torque, the 3.8 L LTZ demonstrated slightly worse performance due to its lowered horsepower, with 0-60 mph (0–97 km/h) times of 7.5 seconds (as opposed to 7.2 seconds for the LQ1) and 1/4 mile (~400 m) times of 15.7 seconds (as opposed to 15.5 seconds for the LQ1). The car has a computer-limited top speed of and the rev limiter kicks in at 5,800 rpm for the 3.8 L (rev limiter is at 7,000 rpm for the 3.4 L LQ1).
Also in 1997, the 1998 model year Luminas received second generation airbags. The front-wheel-drive Chevrolet Impala was introduced as a replacement for the Lumina in 2000, although GM produced 2001 model year Luminas to be exclusively sold for rental fleets. Retail sales of the Lumina ended in Canada in 1999, with the United States following a year later. Fleet production ended on April 26, 2001. In some Asian countries, the Lumina continued as a rebadged Buick Century/Regal.
Trim levels Throughout its life cycle, the second generation Lumina was available in three trim levels:
Base (1995–2001): The most popular Lumina had a standard front row bench seat with seating for six passengers, power locks, tilt steering wheel, dual airbags, and air conditioning. Base models were equipped with fifteen-inch steel wheels with wheel covers.
LS (1995–1999): The mid-level trim models included aluminum wheels, optional dual-zone temperature controls, power windows (optional on Base), tachometer, higher-end stereo with GM's Delcolock, anti-lock brakes, remote keyless entry system, upgraded seats, and an optional 3.4 L DOHC engine (1995-1996).
LTZ (1997–1999): The top-of-the-line Lumina included alloy wheels, a choice of the 3.1 L V6 engine, 3.4 L DOHC engine (1997), and the 3.8 L V6 engine (1998-1999), power driver seat, dual-zone climate control and leather with the option for deluxe cloth. A center console was standard on LTZ (optional on LS). Exterior differentiation included the front end, trunk lid, and taillights from the fifth generation Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Safety
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) +1995–2001 Lumina IIHS scoresModerate overlap frontal offsetGoodSmall overlap frontal offsetNot TestedSide impactNot TestedRoof strengthNot Tested
NHTSA
+1995–2001 Lumina NHTSA scores Year Frontal Driver Frontal Passenger Side Driver Side Passenger 4x2 Rollover 4x4 Rollover 1995 Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated 1996 Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated 1997 Not Rated Not Rated 1998 Not Rated Not Rated 1999 Not Rated Not Rated 2000 Not Rated Not Rated 2001 Not Rated
Engines 1995–1999 L82 V6 1995–1997 LQ1 DOHC V6 1998–1999 L36 V6 2000–2001 LG8 V6
Production YearTotalLQ1L36 1995 264,688 15,998 N/A 1996 224,553 2,054 N/A 1997 234,626 7 N/A 1998 208,627 N/A 16,679 1999 139,098 N/A 13,869 2000 37,493 N/A N/A 2001 42,803 N/A N/A Total production 1,151,888
Third generation (1998)
The third generation Lumina was released in the Middle East in 1998, made by Holden, as a rebadge of the Holden Commodore (VT). It released in 2000 in South Africa. It continued with the VX, VY, VZ series Commodores.
The Lumina released in South Africa in 2000, with the SS as the sole trim.
Overview Starting in 1998, Holden Commodores were sold as the Chevrolet Lumina in the Middle East.
Starting in 2003, the Holden Monaro-based Chevrolet Lumina coupe was sold in the Middle East, ending in 2006. The Lumina Coupe was offered in S and SS trims, equivalent to the CV6 and CV8 in Australia.
Markets In the Middle East, the Lumina was offered in different trims: LS, LTZ, S, and SS, and Royale.
Starting in September 2003, with VY-based Chevrolet Lumina sales started in Malaysia with the LTZ trim, followed by Thailand in October with LTZ and S trims. Singapore was added as an export market by 2004 with the Lumina LTZ. Exports to Singapore ended during 2004; Malaysia and Thailand sales continued with VZ-based Luminas from 2004, exports to both countries ceased during 2005.
Fourth generation (2006)
The fourth generation Lumina was released in 2006, based on the Holden Commodore (VE). It was named the Car Middle East car of the year in 2007. In 2008 a coupé utility variant, the Lumina Ute was released in South Africa, based on the Holden Ute.
In the Middle East the Lumina was available in four trims: LS, LTZ, S, and SS. It was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 for all trims but the SS, which had the 6.0-liter V8. In South Africa Lumina models were sold only in the SS trim, in 2011 the model designation changed to SSV. The Chevrolet Lumina was discontinued in 2011 in the Middle East, and 2013 in South Africa.
In 2008 the Chevrolet Special Vehicles CR8 was released, based on the Holden Special Vehicles ClubSport R8 and slotted above the Lumina SS.
Philippines model