GM G platform (1995)

The General Motors G platform (also called G-Body) automobile platform designation was used for front-wheel drive full-sized and luxury cars between 1995 and 2011.

GM G platform (FWD)
2001-2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
Overview
Manufacturer	General Motors
Also called	G-Body
Production	1995–2011
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Body style(s)	4-door sedan 2-door coupe
Related	GM C platform (FWD) GM H platform (FWD) GM K platform (FWD)
Chronology
Predecessor	GM C platform GM E platform GM H platform GM K platform
Successor	GM Sigma platform (STS/SLS) GM W 3rd gen platform (LeSabre) GM Epsilon II LWB platform (Seville) GM Zeta platform (Bonneville) GM Omega platform

Previously General Motors used the GM G platform (RWD) designation for unrelated mid-sized cars.

The G-body (the GMX690) was based on Cadillac's K-body architecture. The platform was introduced in 1995 with Buick Riviera 2-door coupe (which moved up from the GM E platform) and the Oldsmobile Aurora 4-door sedan (a new model that replaced the Riviera-derived Toronado). By the turn of the millennium, full-sized cars from four different GM makes were using some derivative of the platform.

Platform consolidation

Starting with the 1997 Buick Park Avenue, GM consolidated its four large-car platforms; C platform, K platform, H platform, and G platform; all to the G platform. However, GM decided to retain their previous platform designations.[1] These legacy platform designations were used in the VIN number and official GM publications. Models designated as "G" went out of production for MY 1999, but successor models were sold until MY 2011.

The G-body had an extremely resilient structure. For its time, the G-body was one of the strongest unibody car frames in production (25 Hz). This fact did not go untouted as GM literature made much of the need to use a 'frame crusher' designed to test heavy-duty truck frames to finally break the G-body structure in their crush-to-failure procedures. Vehicles built on the G platform are also noted for having belt-in-seat style seat belts like the mid-size GMT360 SUVs. The G-body also featured four-wheel independent suspension with a MacPherson strut style front suspension and a semi-trailing arm style rear suspension that utilized aluminum control arms. All-new aluminum control arms were introduced for the front suspension for 1998. The handling was further enhanced with standard front and rear stabilizer bars and lateral links in the rear suspension to further control wheel toe.

Vehicles

1999 Buick Riviera

Years	Wheelbase	Model	Platform Name*
1995–1999	113.8 in	Buick Riviera	GM G platform
1995–1999	113.8 in	Oldsmobile Aurora	GM G platform
1997-2005	113.8 in	Buick Park Avenue	GM C platform
1998–2004	112.2 in	Cadillac Seville	GM K platform
2000–2005	112.2 in	Buick LeSabre	GM H platform
2000–2005	112.2 in	Pontiac Bonneville	GM H platform
2001–2003	112.2 in	Oldsmobile Aurora	GM G platform
2000–2005	115.3 in	Cadillac DeVille	GM K platform

* Official designation given by GM, despite using a G platform-derivative. This name also corresponds to the 4th letter in the VIN of the vehicle.

Revision

The G platform was updated for the 2006 model year.[2] The final car on this platform was the Buick Lucerne, which ended production in June 2011.[3]

Vehicles

2006 Buick Lucerne

Years	Wheelbase	Model	Platform Name*
2006–2011	115.6 in	Cadillac DTS	GM K platform
2006–2011	115.6 in	Buick Lucerne	GM H platform

* Official designation given by GM, despite using a G platform-derivative. This name also corresponds to the 4th letter in the VIN of the vehicle.

References

1. Frame, Phil (16 January 1995). "GM H CARS MOVE TO G PLATFORM". Automotive News. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
2. "Buick Lucerne". Car and Driver. February 2005. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
3. "US: GM axes Cadillac DTS and Buick Lucerne". just-auto.com. 2011-05-26. Retrieved 2011-06-05.

• List of GM VIN codes