The Release of the new Bird

Does anybody know when it is coming out? i know its the exact same thing as the camaro but the bird looks so much meaner i cant resist looking at it.

Last I ever heard there was never to be a new bird... Just a GTO that got put on hold.

Btw, just read that the Camaro won't be out until early '09.

x2

the only reason im askin is bcuz think about it the new camaro. yeah the G8 is out but dont you at least think that pontiac will make that return of the Bird?

im thinking the only way they will even consider a return of the bird is if they know there is a high demand for them and if they think they can come out with a nice style for em.....

Don't expect a Firebird for a few years. Pontiac has their hands on the GTO nameplate again and they're focusing on it.

i'd like to see another bird but CAFE rules probably wont allow it unless the GTO goes out of production again...

GTO production ended in 06 thats why they have the G8.
Thats the GTO's replacement

the G8 is replacing the Grand Prix, just as the G6 replaced the Grand Am. The GTO was dropped from production for slow sales and to probably make assembly line room to build the G8.
These same platform components are slated to support the new Camaro when a domestic factory has been retooled. Bob Lutz then plans to have the new GTO built as a sister car to the Chevy...as long as he holds the reigns there will be no Bird and especially no Trans Am since they paid a royalty to SCCA for the use of the name.
Lutzs' aim is to compete against BMW and the like in sports car GT racing (like the present V8 powered G6R)
This is also probably the foundation for the "G" car nomenclature as well as the GXP performance signature.
Given rising gas prices and GM continued cost woes, just getting the Camaro to market may be huge task in itself, let alone a sister GTO.

Actually the GTO was dropped from production because it's aussie equivalent was being dropped from production.

This was known when the GTO started production, but the end of the three year production was supposed to tie in with the Camaro and GTO releases on the new platform which unfortunately kept being delayed and hence the huge gap between the cut of one and the continuation of the other.

How is the G8 replacing the Grand Prix if they are still making it though? I dont find what you say is true about the G8 replacing the Grand Prix no offense i dont see how that possible if the gp is still being made and i know that the monaro is the other side of the GTO but why bring and old car back if you are just going to drop it? excluding the monaro thats not an american car why do that to the musclecar purists?

IF they are producing them they will only be in production for a little while longer until they get the G8 on a full time assmebly line....but the GP will be completely out of production in a couple months IF they havent already shut down production....

They brought it back for the three years thinking that when the Monaro stopped production they would have the new platform ready for an even better GTO.

Sadly they screwed up and ended up producing a bastard child for which people have strong opinions about.

GTO was based on the Monaro. GM planned on a short run until they could get a US plant built. It was going to share the platform with the Camaro. But now with the new CAFE I don't see it coming back.

The G8 is based on the Commadore. It is replacing the GP. The GP is being made as a "hold over" until the G8 hits the streets. There will be no 09 GP.

Lutz has said time and time again that their will be no Bird.

As for the style of the "new" GTO Remember the originals were based off of the Lemans and was a big motored car. GM hoped that the power and RWD would be enough to spark interest. And left it looking like it's aussie counterpart. Remember the Monaro was a hot seller in Australia and other foriegn markets. Gotta remember the trouble GM was in financially when they released the GTO. I think they did good with the cash they had available.

Due to future 35 MPG restrictions, they should wait until their V8 engines can handle the restriction and still deliver power before releasing a Firebird. They shouldn't release it underpowered like the 80's Dodge charger. A small V8 with 300+ is acceptable to me, like the Mustang.

It can get there, but it requires a dedicated engineering team. But for a small market, I doubt they will do it.

My guess is they will release a limited edition version.

i read a quote by one of GM's guys, they said the firebird project was canceled because they did not want to dump the money into something that would never happen because of the new CAFE standards, it just wouldnt fit into the lineup

so in plain english, the government is to blame for pontiac not recreating the firebird

and the RWD pontiac is getting is set to be the new "el camino" or the Ute as they call it in australia

For the umpteenth time GM never planned on reviving the firebird. All the pics and stories were photoshops done by those who want a bird not by GM.

GM knows that to make money they cannot compete with two badged styled cars. As for why the Camaro over the Bird is cause the Camaro has a much much larger fan base.

We'll see what happens with the Ute. I believe the only reason it'll stay a Pontiac is because it's based on the G8/Commadore and the cost of designing a front end and fenders for a GMC or Chevy is cost prohibitive.

I doubt GM will bring the Ute to market here. What are the current sales of a regualr cab Colorado/Canyon these days? And with the new CAFE it'll be interesting to see what powerplant it'll get. Like I said on another post my money's on it being a limited production akin to the Chevy SSR.