Non-Retro 2009 5th Gen Firebird Concept (lets be different)

[Cliffhanger]

ok, since there were mixed feelings about a retro-bird, i've decided to take the plunge and let the 4th gen evolve instead of mixing it with retro design...
photoshop quality is not so good as previous shops but its about the design right?
check it out: (ill be doing the rear end later on)
ps. I had fun making the banshee!

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...ns/transam.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...ns/banshee.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...gns/spider.jpg

I kept it on the zeta platform thus its still sharing the same one as camaro, but still very different. used G6 rooftop for a way different look then the camaro....

[Formula350]

WAY too much happening in the front end lol That, and the rest of the body doesn't look much diff from the rest of them.

[Cliffhanger]

and it became knight...

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...NIGHTRIDER.jpg

[stevesws6]

Defiantly too much going on in the front, but still cool looking. Reminds me a little bit of a Celica though.

[DinoZ]

You've got some skills there, Cliffhanger!!

[wabmorgan]

That's not exactly what I had in mind.. but it sure LOOKS better than anything else I've seen for the 5th gen yet.

Btw, is the based upon the Camaro platform????

Because if it is.... that at least shows that the cars could be complete departures from one another.

The Camaro could be the retro car and the Firebird the futuristic super sports car.

[wabmorgan]

PS when you do the rear... I think it needs a bubble hatch like on the 4th gens but run it out more to the rear of the car.

[Cliffhanger]

ok, i think im gonna work hard on making this work, so there will be an update soon...by the way, i started design off a 2002 model transam, here is the sample, i took the nose and put it on the camaro body, so yes, webmorgan, this IS the zeta platform, and i havent even touched the doors and panels yet, that will be one of the next steps...before doing the rear end, which will have a bit of solstice-look to it....

this project is meant to take a detour from the usual retro design and take it to a way different design, the fact that it doesnt raise too many fans makes me think this could actually work (as at first, every model gets hate).....

here the beginning phase

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...nsAm427SD1.jpg

by the way, ill make work of the headlights, too, like said, it is just a scratch, but now im gonna work on it

[Tamatt27]

I like the idea, it's a definatly something new to work with. I agree, the front end's a little too busy. Not bad at all though. Very refreshing to see a new idea. That 'vert looks sweet. It doesn't immediatly scream out Firebird to mee though. It looks like a 'Vette almost. Maybe incorporating a Ram Air hood or something would help. Definatly keep it up man!

[Cliffhanger]

took all advice for grant, and did it once again, all over, now even updated the ENTIRE body, nothing camaro left, and it's got pop-up headlights now!
AND still easy managable for GM, as its still on the ZETA platform, with just a slight roof modification for the 'chassis'....





to compare, here is the base, 2006 camaro [zeta] (resized):


once again had a lot of fun doing this, though im pleased with the concept, im still not to big a fan for the pop-up headlights. true, they look awesome on 3rd and 4th gen birds, im still not convinced it belongs on a 5th gen. Anno 2007 I think they're a little outdated for this era....but then again, nobody does it anymore, so that gives it a coolness though....

by the way, I've added the G6 GXP rear spoiler, I think it looks AWESOME on the car!

greets,

Manoah

[wabmorgan]

WOW!!!! I like.... especially the first updated Trans Am with the pop-up headlights.

Even without the pop-ups... it looks good.

Let's hope GM builds something like that!!!

This DOES show it would be possible to build two very different cars. (And I think that is what GM should do. Retro for the Camaro. Futurist Super Sports Car for the Firebird/ Trans Am and Formula. Maybe even one final defining difference could be to give the Firebird/Formula the pop-up headlights and the Trans Am the projector headlights. (T/As would get the projectors because they are more expensive and the T/A would have a different front nose anyway.)

[Jeremiah]

I looks like something Mel Gibson would drive in Road Warriors, lets see it with a machine gun on the roof.

[DrkPhynx]

The flip-up version looks good. Certainly the best of the lot by far.

You should make the roof-line match the camaro. Thats the 1 external styling element that they will HAVE to share (windshield, roof, and rear window).

I would think that the Pontiac version, especially if we are talking about an evolution of hte 4th Gen, would have more of an hourglass shape to it, meaning more curvacious front and rear fenders. (allowing for wider tires, as well as being sexier)

The intakes would probably be a bit larger and more aggressive, without the openings on the bumper cover (a trademark since about '79).

Also, no Trans Am says "Firebird" on it, only Firebirds have "Firebird" written on them.


Just some constructive points. All in all I like it. (the stripe package on the one flip up model was really cool too - also, good job on going back to the raised front fender opening. Should probably be a bit higher. On the second gens it's functional and needs to be high up. It's just in the wrong place on the 4th Gens)

[Cliffhanger]

Ok, i've tried it for the very last time now, gave it a bit of a solstice styling to it, thus creating a all-new firebird with no design connections to the previous generations (except for paint scheme's)...you may like it or not, but i've tried keeping the present pontiac-look into the car, while still looking like a firebird sportscar....it's hard to tell this is still on the camaro zeta platform and goes a way different way then camaro...I even dare saying there is a little bit of supersportscar in there....

anyway, a picture says more then a thousand words, so here are 3:
Firebird GXP 427 SD (T/A replacement), Firebird Formula, Firebird Convertible





hope to see some comments!

[J E T]

Originally Posted by DrkPhynx

Also, no Trans Am says "Firebird" on it, only Firebirds have "Firebird" written on them.

Who's to say the possible 5th gens won't? Because, all in all, a Trans Am is a Firebird.

[chaman]

I like the ones with the hidden headlights and projectors. The ones with the Solstice front not so much....I would like to see the Ram Air/projector lights one in a convertible model.

[wabmorgan]

Originally Posted by DrkPhynx

You should make the roof-line match the camaro. Thats the 1 external styling element that they will HAVE to share (windshield, roof, and rear window).

Depends on how they build the car. If the roof is the last thing to go on.... they wouldn't have to share the same roof line, windshield or even the rear window.

[wabmorgan]

Btw, I like the fourth gens based design best. I don't like the one based upon the solstice. It's not bad... I just don't like it as much.

[wabmorgan]

Originally Posted by J E T

Who's to say the possible 5th gens won't? Because, all in all, a Trans Am is a Firebird.

My Formula doesn't even have Firebird on it either. No Firebird decals, No Firebird emblem on the front nose, no decals on the black rear tail light filler.

I bought the car new.. so I think the guys must have been on something the day mine rolled of the line.(Or those guys are a bunch on mind readers.... I like it better without the crap anyway)

They also left off the black trim from the rear window as well.

[OSUBraden]

Wow, these drawings are definitely getting better. You've got some skills. IMO the cars themselves are ugly, but progressively getting closer and closer to something good Toy more with your second set (the one with the headlamp covers), because those are pretty spiffy so far.