I figured I would start a discussion on the 2nd Gen Fiero. In case you aren't up to date, the 2nd gen Fiero was going to be made in 89' and a few prototypes were made. This video below shows/talks about some info on the Fiero: (Skip to 1:11.)
This does seem to beg the question that has been on my mind recently.
If the 2nd gen Fiero HAD been made, would we look at our 1st gen Fieros differently? Would we possibly see them as 'mediocre' compared to the 2nd gen?
The closest thing we can compare it to is the 1st gen MR2 Vs the 2nd gen MR2. The first gen is seen as a "beginning" stage of the MR2, and the 2nd gen is seen as a refined version AKA "better".
Is it possible that if the 2nd gen had been made and kept going for a few years, would it have been seen as the best sports car? Maybe even taking out the Miata, or even greater the Corvette.
It is interesting to imagine what the Fiero would have become in the eyes of the world.
I would love to know what you guys/girls think.
[This message has been edited by zzzhuh (edited 08-04-2015).]
It is amusing how often people say it looks "too much like" some other car that didn't even exist for 3-5 years until after this prototype was meant to start being produced. I'd say the design cues are closer to the Lotus Esprit of the era, than a Ford Probe. The 4th gen F-bodies look like it, because parts of the design were moved over to that platform, when the Fiero got chopped, and the tail lights got shoved into the 91-92 Firebird.
The tail end design definitely looks like it took some hints from the Banshee and CERV III concepts that were being built around the same time as the 90 Prototype. All three borrowed heavily from the Italian side of sports car design at the time.
In my mind the 1988 models were the second generation Fiero's and most of us do in fact look at them differently...
The 2nd gen had a lot going for it. I think the 88 would have been looked at as the "refined 1st gen" but still been 2nd best to the 2nd gen. Just my opinion.
If the 2nd gen Fiero HAD been made, would we look at our 1st gen Fieros differently? Would we possibly see them as 'mediocre' compared to the 2nd gen? [/QUOTE]
I don't think it be any different than the introduction of the fastback GT in 86. There will always be those who prefer the original notchback, and those who prefer the fastback style. I suspect, among Fiero enthusiasts, it would have gone the same with the intro of the 90. However, in the eyes of the media and general public, the intro of the 90 would have caused the original notchback styling to be become considered a more "dated" styling. JMHO. Mark
Originally posted by lorennerol: I think these look quite similar. Regardless of which one was supposed to come first but didn't so the other one did but it was second...
I don't like either one. Especially the C pillar line.
So Ford made a car that has very few similarities to the '90 Prototype, and you're saying Pontiac was going to make a car that looked like the Ford? Seems you got it backwards.
I've heard/seen a lot of "looks like a 300ZX" when people talk about the 86-88 GT too, but the 300ZX didn't have the same body lines as the Fiero GT until 1989, which clearly came after the Fiero.
All I'm saying is that I don't like the Gen 2 Fiero prototype body lines at all. They remind me of the original Ford Probe, which I didn't like for the same reason.
It has nothing to do with which one was first or which one was never made. Just a plain, simple, "The body lines on these two cars look similar and I don't care for them."
Seems to have gotten bloated and over styled (as Pontiac started to do by then). Not a fan and glad they didn't make it. Plus, lets face it... you could buy something similar... the camaro/trans am if you wanted the styling.
Seems to have gotten bloated and over styled (as Pontiac started to do by then). Not a fan and glad they didn't make it. Plus, lets face it... you could buy something similar... the camaro/trans am if you wanted the styling.
Years later sure. I wouldnt be surprised if THE main reason Fiero died was actually so they could use the styling for the 93 Fbird and Camaro.
[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 08-06-2015).]
Had a Camaro, Mitsubishi 3000GT both had more power but some reason I enjoy driving my 6v Fiero more. I think the 88 Fiero looks far better than the newer one they had planned on. Maybe because it reminds of the Probe, and some of the other GM cars that ended up sort of looking like it. All had that 'girly' look about them or a used bar of soap.
Keep in mind that the 89/90 Fiero is not a second generation car. It is just a continuation of the same P-1 platform. The P-2 platform was not scheduled until MY1993. The space frame for the P-2 Fiero would have been all new.
Same as the continuation between the first design 84, Aero nothback, Aero Fastback. The 90 Fiero did have some minor changes to the base space frame to support the new headlights, larger spare tire, cowl changes to support automatic HVAC, and the enlarged trunk. Otherwise the space frame was the same as earlier cars. The suspension would have carried through the same as 88 Fiero.
Also, due to delays incurred, the new body style was officially delayed until MY1990. So, MY1989 Fieros would have been the same as MY1988 Fieros with minor trim changes. There is also some information that I recently researched that indicates that the interior that is in the 90 GT would have been produced in to the MY1989 Fiero. Somewhat supporting why the 88 pilot build car I own has a pre-production 90 Fiero interior in it. I have been pressing to find out what the 89 Fiero would have looked like as the entire model year production schedule was completed, they just needed to build the cars.
As far as it looking like a probe, I get where you are coming from but the Fiero would have lived on.
The probe died because of the name alone...
I didn't say anything about it looking like a Probe. I said the front, basically hood nose and bumper lights of the latter 4th gen Corvettes resemble it. Probably coincidental, but I guess it's possible they might have used styling ques from it.
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 08-06-2015).]
All I'm saying is that I don't like the Gen 2 Fiero prototype body lines at all. They remind me of the original Ford Probe, which I didn't like for the same reason.
It has nothing to do with which one was first or which one was never made. Just a plain, simple, "The body lines on these two cars look similar and I don't care for them."
I have to be honest, I see more of a resemblance to the gen 2 than the gen 1.
The notchback was to be a 1989 model the GT was to be a 1990 model. Here is a GM video on the body assembly and build procedure that would be followed at the factory for the 1990 Fiero GT.
Seems to have gotten bloated and over styled (as Pontiac started to do by then). Not a fan and glad they didn't make it. Plus, lets face it... you could buy something similar... the camaro/trans am if you wanted the styling.
True. but the only reason you could buy a 4th Gen F-body with similar styling was because much of the style work that was done on the 2nd Gen Fiero was incorporated into the 4th Gen F-car after the Fiero's demise. Even the gauge cluster in the 89/90 Prototype looks like it was lifted right out of a 4th gen, but it was built before the 4th gen.
The black sail panel styling was carried over to the Camaro almost verbatim.
GM was pretty much out of ideas... one can say the 2nd gen Fiero had a big influence, but I believe it was more about the direction that GM was heading with "sporty" cars at the time. Now, elements of the 2nd gen fiero may have made it into production, but that is because this was not a concept car, but pretty close to production. GM borrowed ideas because they were tested and worked. If the 2nd gen fiero stuck around, I don't believe there would have been much difference in the 4th gens... it was GM styling.
Released in 1988... Banshee (one can see where some influences are carried over... but... yuck):
quote
Originally posted by Formula88:
True. but the only reason you could buy a 4th Gen F-body with similar styling was because much of the style work that was done on the 2nd Gen Fiero was incorporated into the 4th Gen F-car after the Fiero's demise. Even the gauge cluster in the 89/90 Prototype looks like it was lifted right out of a 4th gen, but it was built before the 4th gen.
The black sail panel styling was carried over to the Camaro almost verbatim.
[This message has been edited by jaskispyder (edited 08-07-2015).]
The concept cars of the era all looked curvy like that. It's just a product of Sci-Fi of the time. Go watch almost any of the sci-fi films from the 80s that took place in the future, and the vehicles in them are all bulbous.
The production prototype Fiero though seemed a bit less so. Then again, it was slated for production, rather than simply a concept.
