GM Concept Photos Show Off The Second-Gen Pontiac Fiero That Was Never Produced

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One may argue the Pontiac Fiero got here on the incorrect time, however it stays an iconic two-seat sports activities automobile that predated the Chevy C8 Corvette’s rear-engine structure by about three a long time. The Fiero was a success when it debuted in 1984. Pontiac bought greater than 100,000 Fieros in its maiden manufacturing yr, and practically 300,000 items left the manufacturing unit within the first three years.

The stellar gross sales figures gave then-Pontiac chief designer John Schinella, who penned different GM classics just like the first-gen Chevy Camaro, third-gen Corvette, and some Cadillacs from the Sixties, the motivation to begin engaged on a much-awaited successor.

However, the second-gen Fiero will without end be a “what could have been” in auto historical past. By 1987, solely 46,581 Pontiac Fieros had left the manufacturing unit, lower than 20% of the plant’s capability. Considering the Fiero required a two-story customized drill and milling machine for meeting, GM had no alternative however to discontinue the Fiero in 1988 after a five-year curler coaster of exhilarating highs and crashing lows.

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Even although the first-gen Pontiac Fiero was a mishmash of GM elements bolted to a metal area body with bolt-on plastic physique panels, it had its share of deserves. For starters, the panel gaps have been among the many finest within the business, and the bespoke area body gave it stellar crash security scores.

Then once more, the usual Iron Duke 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine was too portly for a two-seat sports activities automobile, and GM engineers needed to shoehorn the motor behind the Fiero by downsizing the oil pan, which led to overheating and fireplace points.

The first-gen Pontiac Fiero was removed from excellent, though the second-gen idea would have corrected all its predecessor’s faults. The styling is an evolution of the earlier Fiero’s wedge-shaped countenance, however the true speaking level is what’s behind the seats. The rumor mills recommend a correct 16-valve four-banger or a high-strung turbocharged V6 engine was within the playing cards, and GM went to Porsche to enhance the Fiero idea’s dealing with and canyon-carving talents.

The second-gen Fiero would have given Ferraris and Porsches a run for the cash. But would GM take into account resurrecting the title as a two-seat, retro-inspired, sporty electrical automobile like Hyundai N Vision 74? One can solely hope.