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When General Motor decided to kill off Oldsmobile at the beginning of this century, that move stunned the automotive world. Olds was the longest continually running GM brand, but its importance eroded over the years as GM poured its resources into Chevrolet and Saturn, while neglecting Oldsmobile.

Soon after celebrating its 100th anniversary, Oldsmobile closed up shop and, ironically, is now being joined by two other GM brands which once competed with and against it: Saturn and Pontiac.

The last car built for the brand was the Oldsmobile Alero, a medium sized model that was discontinued in April 2004. Indeed, the final Alero was made in April 2004, officially bringing the curtain down on the Oldsmobile show.

The Oldsmobile Alero was released in 1998 for the 1999 model year, replacing the dull Oldsmobile Achieva itself a replacement for the one time popular Oldsmobile Cutlass. Closer scrutiny of Oldsmobile history reveals that the Cutlass helped Oldsmobile sales peak in the late 1970s, only to begin a gradual, but steady slide from that point on. The Achieva achieved nothing of significance for Olds, except to underscore that the brand had lost its way while the Alero offered a glimmer of hope that the brand could be continued. Unfortunately, that was not to be.

Underpinned by the same platform powering the Pontiac Grand Am and sharing many of the same parts including engine and transmission, the Oldsmobile Alero had a distinctive sporty grille and generous sized tail lights. Available as a coupe or sedan, the Alero was up against strong competition including industry leaders Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, though some people considered the car to be a compact.

Buyers could choose one four cylinder engine - 2.4L followed by an ECOTEC 2.2L - or go with GM's 3.4L V6, an engine bored out of GM's popular 3.1L V6 of the 1990s. That engine family featured a stiffer engine block, structural oil pan, and sequential fuel injection. Buick, Pontiac, and Chevrolet offered the 3100 family in a number of its models too.

The Oldsmobile Alero did have a few nice attributes which made the car stand out. A five speed Getrag manual transmission showed up in 2001 and later models, though some late 2000 models also featured this particular transmission. That combination blended well with the model's sporty flair, offering active driving to go along with good gas mileage.

Yet, it was the larger V6 which received the praises of auto critics, with the GLS coupe considered to be "world class" by Consumer Guide thanks to its communicative styling, brisk chassis, and ample torque. Many called the Alero Olds' "little Intrigue" a complement given as the car was fashioned to resemble the larger sedan.

So what were some of the highlights of the five passenger Oldsmobile Alero? Besides invoking Oldsmobile Intrigue styling on a smaller scale, and offering a potent engine, the Alero featured a performance suspension system in the GLS coupe, a simple traction control system, tire pressure monitoring, and an interior more refined than the Pontiac Grand Am and closer in look and feel to the Intrigue.

Now an orphan model, resale values of the Oldsmobile Alero have dropped significantly, although if you have one with low miles and special enhancements such as the Getrag transmission or GLS package, your car may hold its appeal. Come ten or twenty years down the line, certain Oldsmobile Aleros may be considered rare classics, enjoyed for their nimble handle, sporty good looks, and a tribute to a brand that died too soon.