Bad idea. When trying to determine whether resurrecting an old name is a good idea, I try to think about what the original stood for, and what made it (presumably) such a good car for its time, not necessarily the exact details of its incarnation. The Firehawks always meant the top of the performance ladder for the popular sporty model of its time. It wasn't an appearance package; it's raison d'etre was to give even more performance than the best the OEM would put out. A V6 G8 definitely does not fit that.

That's actually my same criticism of the new Camaro. The 1969 Camaro was a great car, no doubt. But what really made it great? While a very beautiful car, it wasn't the exact shape of it that was the sole reason for its success. It was the right car for its time: modern in almost every detail, light weight, two-door, many engine options, rounded performance. It was the perfect car for young-ish folks to have something both practical and fun, while still being mostly mainstream with the rest of the market's sensibilities. It was not off in the fringes like the new Camaro is. And that's what the new Camaro forgot. GM thought the 69's success was just the shape and a big motor, totally ignoring what is relevant and modern in the 21st century. As I've said in other posts, something like the BMW 3-series is really occupying the market the Camaro used to. Something that all manner of young people want to own and be seen in, because it represents a perfect compromise for folks that need both excitement and practicality in their automobiles. GM should have produced something more like the Holden Coupe 60 as modern Camaro ... sure, it doesn't look like a 1969, but really, how many cars in the 21st century look that much like their 1960s forebears, aside from maybe a few superficial styling cues. A Coupe 60 or 3-series in 2008 would be hitting the same target market that the 1969 Camaro did, and to me that's what determines if a car is worthy of its name.

 

What? Without the G8, there is no Firehawk anymore, at all.

Also, it's not a brand.

 

I think they could very easily come up with a new name for the G8

 

I would have moved the firehawk name to the Solstice back when it was brand new, if it were my registered trademark to play with.

Give it a more aggressive front/rear fascia than the Solsice GXP, some sort of styling gimmick on the hood, and go to town on that turbo ecotec or set up a high revving low displacement genIV motor or something.

 

Of course they want to make money. That doesn't mean it is a good idea to slap the name "Firehawk" on a car that doesn't fit in with all the previous Firehawks. And again, even if you can make the connection between the old Firebird-based 'Hawks and the new G8 Firehawk, it really only makes sense if it were based only on the GXP (or, at least, only on the V8 cars). Otherwise, why was there never a 3800 powered Firehawk? The Firehawk was the most performance oriented of the Firebirds, so it seems to me that if a G8 is to get the name, it ought to be the GXP.

Otherwise, the name is heavily diluted.

I'm sure it will have some standard stuff. Some ground effects or spoilers, some suspension adjustments (lowering springs maybe?), different wheels/tires. Maybe a cold air kit and catback system too. But I didn't get the impression that there would be a supercharged V6 car, unless they are planning something later.

I don't own a Firehawk, so I don't personally have any skin in this. But I remember cringing internally as soon as Dave made the announcement on Friday that the Firehawk name was returning on the G8. I love the G8 and think it is a great car, but I knew the Firehawk / Firebird people were not going to go for this idea at all. When he said the Firehawk treatment would be available on all three G8 levels, I cringed even more. Nothing personal, I just don't really see it.



Think of it like Dodge offering the "Super Bee" or some similar package on the Charger line, all the way from the 2.7L rental car version to the mighty SRT8.

 

I'm obviously way too emotional over old nameplates being used on newer cars and ruining them so this bothers me a lot. I'm not surprised that this happened though because car sales in general are so competitive that everyone is doing whatever they can to milk every drop of name recognition they can.

Oh well, I'll just voice my displeasure by doing my best to avoid SLP products from now on. That's really all you can do, vote with your pocket.

 

I don't think the name is that limited. Firehawk is SLP's name for modified Pontiacs.
It has value for that. As long as the Firehawks all perform well, that should be good enough.

But then I really don't understand people getting wrapped around the axle on names. I like reusing old names that I recall favorably. If the new car doesn't have the same precise layout and purpose as the old one, I don't care. As long as it's similar.

I think the modern Charger and GTO were both credits to the old names. If Olds were still around, I'd be quite pleased to be able to buy a 442, even if it was just a Commodore SS with an Olds badge (I prefer Commodore styling to G8 styling, but that's another thread).

 

Part of what bothers me so much about using Firehawk again is that it just makes zero sense. Firebird ---> Firehawk at least worked somewhat even though I'm sure the naming had more to do with the tire or some other unknown item. G8--->Firehawk makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. If they are trying to use this car as a BMW or MB fighter, then they should be trying to distance the G8 as much as possible from the Fbody because it has recognition with poor quality and overall cheapness.

So what are you going to get out of this then? The majority of people who hold the Firehawk name in a high regard are very unhappy it's being used on a 4 door car, and the market they want to actually buy it is going to find out it was used previously on a "cheap and inferior" car and will happily stay with their German vehicles. Dave Hamburger even said they are going to put together a website that explains the heritage of the Firehawk so it's not like people aren't going to find out where it came from. It just doesn't make sense to me any way I look at it and I really do wonder what SLP is thinking with this.

Just my line of thinking but hey, it's not like I studied this stuff or anything.

 

I believe you're over-thinking this.

Firehawk is the name for the SLP version of a sporty Pontiac, and that's it.


Long (overthought) version:

In the age of the internet, whatever you do, someone will complain, because it's so easy. So you pretty much have to ignore most negative reactions on forums like this and actually solicit responses to see how many people actually care.

If 20% of the target market has a vaguely favorable reaction to the name Firehawk, 79% don't know about it, and 1% go non-linear because there's no hoodscoop or something, that 1% will complain on the forums. No one else will post much. But if you base your product on that 1%, then you're doomed.

Just look at the reaction to the Charger, where the stories of the negative internet reaction even made the mainstream press. Three years later, it's a non-issue.

People don't like change, but they get over it.

Now if the research really does indicate that you'll anger/annoy/negatively amuse a large chunk of your target market with the name (LaCrosse in Quebec, NoVa in Spanish-speaking countries), then you better do something.

 

i just dont understand it. I always assumed that the Fire-HAWK, was supposed to be a more bad *** Fire-BIRD, hawk-bird, get it

It doesnt make sense with a G8 as it has no aviary lineage...

Why not call it the H8, or G9, or something along those lines

 

Dave will do anything to make a buck, and I'll leave it at that

 

Your underthinking this. Firehawk meant the fastest, most top end V8 powered Pontiac coupe (at the time that was the Firebird). Putting that name on a 4 door V6 car is like saying the G6 could just as easily have a Firehawk package. It is a sporty Pontiac, hell you could even say the G3 is a sporty Pontiac and should get a Firehawk package.

Note I don't own, nor have I ever owned a Firehawk but I think that just sticking a name with a powerful history on something like a V6 mainstream sedan is just WRONG. As a long time 3rd gen guy I feel the 92 Firehawks ARE just as hallowed as the muscle cars of old. It had so many unique features that set it apart from Formulas and Trans Ams that it has always held a special place in my heart/mind.

If they wanted to do a Firehawk from the GXP model and come up with another name for the GT and V6 versions great, I have almost no problem with that.

 

I sadly wasn't able to go to the Summit (missed seeing guys like Charlie, Joe and Doug ) due to financial constraints, having bought my new house back in June. It killed me to cancel my registration Anyway, I would've wanted to smack Dave Hamburger upside the head, and ask him what the hell he was thinking, if I was handed that card. I sold 10 Firehawks in 2002. These were special cars, sold to die-hard enthusiasts. They were performance SPORTS CARS. Not 4 door sedans.

SLP has lost it...seriously. This honestly lessens the respect I have for the company. I've always been a die-hard SLP fan. The only aftermarket parts on my Z28 are all SLP. I've always respected the quality of their products, and the conviction with which they helped shape the 4th gen years. Were it not for them cancelling virtually EVERY decent third and 4th gen part they had in their catalog over the years, I'd still be buying their stuff for my RS resurrection.

But this is an embarrassment. If I was Dave Hamburger, I'd be ashamed. They were so controlling over the collectability of the old Firehawk, it was impossible to even get a hood unless you had a damaged hood to send back. Now? Throwing Firehawk logos on a 4 door, 4,100 lb sedan? I love the G8...

But this is downright embarrassing. Re-do a Camaro. Re-do a G8, and call it something else. But this? I can see the auto mags now, ragging on the name, but loving the car...

 

They went from that, to selling everything necessary to clone 96/97 SS's on eBay for ~200 bucks until I raised a stink about it.

 

Hey! I was looking for you Jason! I saw Joe, but not Doug.

Anyways, I'm not sure I have a dog in this fight. I feel so beat up and numb over the mass of the Camaro - I feel like what's the freaking difference on what anyone does anymore.

Oh, here's another reason for you to love Hamburger and SLP, Jason. Someone asked him if we could expect a continuation or even some new pieces for the 3rd gen.
Hamburger smuggly responded, "We're done with the 3rd gen".