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This five part paper discusses in detail the development of a car -- a new breed -- The Toronado. The desire to create a better automobile, one from which both driver and passenger would receive maximum benefit, prompted the original concept. The exploratory design study, undertaken by many Oldsmobile departments, was unfettered by commitment to traditional arrangement. This led to the development of a vehicle employing front wheel drive with all the power components designed into a single unit forward of the passenger compartment. Among the advantages of the unitized powerplant approach are maximum passenger space, a nearly vibration-free ride, and exceptional directional stability.

The theme of this paper is that only an engineer is equipped by virtue of his training to perform an adequate production planning job. The author proves his point by reviewing the procedures adopted by General Motors Corp. and showing how the newly created Forward Planning staff has operated to combine the efforts of design, manufacturing, assembly, distribution, and service staffs. Engineers on this staff devote their planning efforts to two areas, forward planning and program planning. In the early stages of their studies, marketing advice is sought and styling counsel is solicited. From this point on the Forward Planning staff directs assembly of prototypes and manufacturing evaluations of tooling and facility requirements.