After reading and posting in some other threads about how a 5th gen Pontiac Firebird would have to differentiate itself greatly from a Camaro, I got to thinking. What if Pontiac would bring back the Firebird but as an AWD car, possible Supercharger or turbo charger on the LS2, different ride and handling characteristics etc. etc.? Would anyone be ok with that? As a Firebird and T/A enthusiast, I would rather have the Firebird remain a 2+2 RWD coupe with a V8 and with aggressive styling. But the more I think about it, the more I seem to be becoming more open minded of potentially having a sleek, 2+2 possible AWD Firebird (T/A) that can be aggressive looking and with presence without being overdone like some people think. And with a possible Supercharger or turbocharger on the LS2, the Firebird (T/A) could differentiate itself from Camaro. What does everyone else think?

: Puts Flame suit on

 

I have suggested AWD in the past to differentiate either Firebird from Camaro, or different trim levels of Camaro within itself (Z28 and SS, for example)

Regardless, if Firebird to were to comeback, I think it needs ot have unique styling... and if Camaro does come back as a retro-flavored car, it would be fantastic for Firebird to further differentiate itself by going modern, and futuristic.

 

Superchareged or Turbo LS2 would be ~550HP, with AWD your looking at a $50,000+ car.

Firebird has been about affordable performance. Maybe it could get a turbo HV V6

 

Actually I wasn't even thinking of factoring the cost of that. But yeah, if it had a different engine like a turbo HV V6 and every thing else was done right, why couldn't there be a case for it? Heck, the 20th anniversary TTA is a good example of it. I now purists might whine about not having a V8 or changing the make up of the Firebird, but I think it's something to at least think about.

 

Don't take this the wrong way, but the question you post is so completely irrelevant, given we know there is zero shot at a new 'bird, that I don't see the point in answering the poll.

If I thought it was possible (which would require GTO's demise), then I'd be all over this topic.

 

Oh, I'm a big boy, I can handle it Oh I know the Firebird has basically zero chance of coming back, but I was just trying to get a feel for what other people felt. Maybe GM can realize that there is a place for Firebird in Pontiac's lineup. You can't just throw away a recognizable nameplate with the history and tradition that the Firebird and T/A had ( though probably not as big as Camaro) still has a name that is recognizable. I could see GTO being the Halo car, with the Firebird slotted right behind it. Maybe it's just wishful thinking or the fact that I'd love to see the 'Bird come back, but I feel there is a business case for Firebird.

 

I would love to see the Firebird come back with the Camaro. And if it is AWD + V8...is there really any other sports cars in the market right now like that? Not that I know of. Would grab a lot of sales IMHO.

 

Problem is weight, cost, and complexity firstly.

Problem with a v6 turbo is insurance would probably be higher then a v8.

Problem with weight is the AWD would add a few hundred lb and a lot of complexity. And cost too!

Then there's the fact if you took a coupe awd LS1 against a Z06 - I honestly dont know how much faster (if at all) the Z06 would be before 70mph. AWD would let it launch through the sky, and help it fling out of the turns.

It'd put the bird closer to the vette's status, if not above. GM wont do it.

And you'd easily have a $50,000 car.

 

Engine architecture has no bearing on insurance rates.

 

Substitue "GTO" every place you have "Firebird", then dump the idea of a turbo and you might not be far off.

BTW... just in case you missed it... the Firebird is DEAD.

 

Oh I didn't miss it, it just gets me all fired up knowing that there isn't any love for the Firebird ( from GM's standpoint). I was just trying to get a feel for if anyone would be interested in a car; Firebird preferably, that differentiated from Camaro and if there would be a market for it. Like Meccadeth said, right now there isn't any other car on the market like that, so it is conceivable that Firebird could succeed if it was built that way. Pontiac without Firebird (T/A) is not Pontiac to me. Looks like a CHarger R/T is my next car.

 

Bring back the TTA.

 

 

It would be nice, but it will never happen. The GTO is now Pontiac's hi performance car. Like it or not. That's the way it is.

 

I think it would be nifty to see a smaller, lighter kappa based "Firebird" as an RX8 fighter with quad doors and a V6 (Turbo 6 for a Turbo-TA).

I'd buy an RX8 for a family car if it didn't have that damn gas guzzling pokey rotary engine.