Best known for its iconic hood decals and a starring role in the Burt Reynolds’ classic Smokey and the Bandit, the Pontiac Firebird is well-established as an enthusiast favorite. Now, one rendering artist has produced a series of new images that reimagines the muscle car with modern styling, recently posting the images to the instagram account @tuningcar_ps.
General Motors discontinued the Pontiac Firebird in 2002, with the Pontiac brand soon to follow in 2010. As such, the Firebird nameplate never got the contemporary styling treatment enjoyed by GM’s other muscle car nameplates, such as the Chevrolet Camaro. However, this series of images aims at fixing that by combining modern gloss with recognizable Firebird styling cues.
The artist posted several versions of the modern Pontiac Firebird, including coupes and convertible models. The new fascia gets a swept-back, narrowed brow and tight central intake, with a prominent lower chin spoiler finished in black. The hood also gets dual rounded intakes, while the forward lighting incorporates unique signatures that lend this modern Pontiac Firebird a distinctive aesthetic. We also see the classic Firebird emblem added to the front fender of some of the rendering images.
Differentiating the various rendering images are different wheel treatments and tweaked front fascia treatments. This particular rendering is based on the sixth-generation Camaro, which blesses it with just the right proportions for a modern muscle car.
The artist even saw fit to render the modern Firebird’s interior, once again basing it off the Camaro, while adding new accents and graphics to the mix.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen @tuningcar_ps work some digital magic with popular GM products. Previously, the artist posted a Chevrolet Camaro SUV rendering, and odds are we’ll see more GM goodness posted in the future.
What are your thoughts on this modern Pontiac Firebird rendering? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Pontiac Firebird news, Pontiac news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
I like this rendering. However, it looks as though the Camaro resemblance of a Pontiac Firebird over the years has seemed inevitable like a karma of some kind. I am thinking that perhaps that was one of the reasons of the Pontiac demise. Anyway, since renderings are “free” artistic representations, I would try something new and probably useful: how about some wider side windows? This would improve side vision for sure.
Honestly, this a bad rendering in comparison to what Trans Am Depot actually produces off current 6th gen Camaros. Theirs are differentiated just enough for the vehicle to have more character, this rendering looks too blocky and lacks the sophistication Trans Am Depot infuses in its product.
Interior looks fine, exterior is not going to win and awards. I love to see pontiac come back but probably never will
Electric Firebird is probably the only way it will comeback
Fantastic looking car. But why tease us when the Camaro might be done in a couple of years. I have a 2017 ss and it is the best muscle car out there. Keep making those and add a firebird version and then get some younger people to market it. If you lose the Camaro your marketing is to blame. Nuff said.
What did I say fwd Firebird?, the Hummer is returning as an E/V why not a E/V Firebird along with the normal ICE Camaro?, Pontiac returns as a performance E/V, PHEV niche brand.
0 60 .4sec that songs about right because the The Camaro look doesn’t look nice on a Firebird trans out
It’s a certainty that the aftermarket folks who build cars like the Bandit will take a look at the rendering and compare it to the car they’re building.
I’m kinda surprised some enterprising person hasn’t made this already. You can clip it on the front bumper.
(Also removing people’s ability to plug their sites/blogs will affect their engagement, GMA).
I have a 79 trans am. Sexy machine.
Bert Reynolds and Sally field made it iconic. Bert passed so let it go. Stop making these stupid looking cars. You want a trans am. Buy an old one and make it something. Come on now.
Cars back then aren’t safe, compared to today (they’re also not that comfortable – one of the reasons people drank and drove more back then – self-medicating).
People want sporty, stylish, modern cars. That defined Pontiac then… and when the right GM leadership gets in control of the company, it will again someday.
If you buy a new camaro. There is a place In California that will customize it for you in the biggest way. Bert signed i think 30 of them. As a custom trans am. There amazing.
If you can actually drive. Then the old ones are where it’s at.
I think gm made a mistake killing off pontiac with the firebird formula and trans am it would have made gm a lot of money and even remaking another smokey and the bandit movie i like the firebird it nicer and better looking that the camaro gm need to bring back the pontiac brand.
Honestly, this artist render is not that great at all. They didn’t seem inspired enough to make this Firebird look different, stand out enough from the Camaro. As for the interior, I would keep the dash lights red, as there’s no eye strain when in use. I used to own a 1996 Trans Am and that was one of the many things I loved about it. There was zero glare from the dash lights. I drive a 2008 Hyundai Veracruz that uses blue and white dash lights. I have them on their lowest settings and it still lights up the front our the cabin like a flashlight is being shined in our faces.
Personally, I would love to see the Firebird Trans Am return with its own new style. These retro muscle cars are getting old and boring. Make the Firebird Trans Am completely different and give it an amazing design, so good that Chevy/GM will want to steal designs from it like they used steal from Pontiac…it’ll be like the old days for Chevy. Let’s be honest, that’s my most GM vehicles are ugly. They no longer have Pontiac to steal from.
Yeah, it make me recall the Gen 1 Firebird that was rushed into production about six months after the debut of the Camaro. It was basically the Camaro with a slightly different front end, slightly different tail lights, and the addition of the fake air intakes on the rear quarter panel. The interior was a near clone of the Camaro’s, which was, in turn, a near copy of the then current Corvair. The Firebird did have Pontiac engines, and the wheels were unique to the Pontiac. The Firebird sold for about $1500 to $2500 more than the Camaro, over the years, depending on the model.
Get some people who know how to market cars. If you lose the Camaro other GM vehicles will lose sales too. GM NEEDS TO BECOME THE LEADER AGAIN. I have a 2017 ss and this gen 6 is the best muscle car I have ever driven. (Except the damn 8 speed shudder issue.) Get some younger people to market the Camaro and throw in a Firebird version.
Looks like a Camaro that went through a bad custom shop. If someone actually wants a ‘new’ Trans Am, they need to get in touch with Trans Am Depot in Florida, a company that does well-executed, good-looking conversions. But bring $$$; their cars don’t come cheap.
As for why GM discontinued the Pontiac division, it was for the same reason why Olds disappeared; GM brass finally realized that it made no economic sense to have your own divisions competing with each other rather than with other manufacturers.
I like it!!!! Much better looking than any other Camaro Trans Am wannabe on the market today. C’mon GM get your design team on it and manufacture a real Pontiac Trans Am. If GM can produce And sell Hummers, Saab’s and Saturns they can assuredly resurrect and once again produce the Pontiac Trans Am. Perhaps they just need some new innovative leadership.
One of the worst renderings ever… really horrible…
The artists rendering looks typically the Same as every other BORING looks all the same car on the road. Bring back a body style ie a 79 that looks like than but with all the tech of 2020 not in between like the hideous camaros and challengers ….But Please Bring back The TRANS AM…
I’m a GTO fan but would love a trans am
Love to see them back
i have a 1995 firebird for over 22 years now. I love it and would die first b4 getting rid of it. Loove it
Want. Please bring back the Pontiac brand!!! I will most definitely buy one.
Bring back Pontiac!! Love the 2 I have now. Best car ever.