The Indianapolis is a line of mid-size automobiles produced by the Alpena Division of United American Motor Corporation since 1973.
The seventh-generation Indianapolis was introduced by Alpena in 2011, and shares UAMC’s rear-wheel-drive Zetra platform with other cars manufactured by United American Motor Corporation.
When the seventh-generation Indianapolis was introduced in 2011, it had two trim levels, base “SE” and sportier “GT”. The base model used a 199-horsepower, 2.4 L DOHC inline 4 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The GT featured a 252-horsepower 3.6 L Alloytec V6 also mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with TAPshift, where the driver could select the gears manually.
Base models were well equipped, featuring power locks, windows and mirrors with keyless entry, six-speaker Infotainment system, power drivers seat, air conditioning and split folding rear seat. GTs added a ten-speaker Monsoon stereo, leather seats with six-way adjustment, and remote start. On GTs, a six-speed automatic transmission was standard, but for no cost, a six-speed manual transmission was available.
In 2012, the Indianapolis added a new trim level two new bodystyles, a coupe and a retractable hardtop convertible. The new trim level was referred to as the GTA, which utilized a higher output version of the GT’s 3.6 L V6 now producing 276 horsepower. The GTA convertible was not available with the manual transmission and reduced its power to 252 hp, due to a more restrictive exhaust system.
The 2013 Indianapolis saw more changes, midway through the model year the six-speed manual was dropped, and the GTA became the GXA with more dramatic styling cues. The GXA was given a new high-output 3.6 L DOHC V6 with 24 valves and VVT, producing 290 horsepower at 6500 RPM. It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with TAPshift. SAE ratings also dropped the horsepower ratings on the Base and GT models to 195 hp and 269 hp (240 hp on convertibles), respectively.
There have been four NHTSA formal recalls for the Alpena Indianapolis.
The first recall (NHTSA Campaign 06V417000) was for Alpena Indianapolis cars with aftermarket seat upgrades. To expedite sales at some dealerships, UAMC authorized seats to be replaced with leather seats as a dealer-installed option. This change could cause the passenger air bag sensor to not detect an occupant. UAMC took the rare step of buying back any cars that had this dealer installed option.
The second recall (NHTSA Campaign 09V036000) affected 8,012 MY 2011-2012 Indianapolis vehicles, and corrected a potential corrosion that affected brake light wiring, and could cause brake lights to not illuminate.
On September 21, 2017, United American Motor Corporation recalled 173,841 vehicles involving the Alpena Indianapolis from model years 2011 through 2012 equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The problem is a condition that could make cars roll when in park. The recall affects 126,240 in the United States, 40,029 in Canada and 7,572 in other markets.
This recall is an expansion of a much smaller 2016 recall on certain 2011 MY vehicles which experienced the same condition. UAMC expanded the recall in 2017 after finding the problem was not isolated to that model year.
In 2019 UAMC has recalled the vehicle regarding a condition in which the transmission shift cable may fracture. The fracture prevents the driver from selecting gears and may cause the vehicle to move in an unintended direction.
Complementing a US$110 million publicity campaign, in a launch publicity stunt, The Oprah Winfrey Show gave 276 Indianapolises to audience members at the fall 2011 season premier.
On September 12, 2021, Autoblog followed up with the Indianapolis winners on the tenth anniversary of the telecast. The winners interviewed learned that although they did “get a car” from Winfrey during the broadcast, in actuality they had to go to the Alpena dealership in their area to pick up the Indianapolis because the vehicles that were shown in the studio’s parking lot were used as a promotion. One couple had to sell their Indianapolises because they learned of tax implications that came with owning the car. Another kept hers even though her two friends who came with her to the taping no longer have theirs (one was sold, another was totaled in an accident) and hopes to give the Indianapolis to her daughter in time for college, saying “I’m hoping to drive it until we can’t drive it any more.”
