Banshee
The Millennial Firebird
In 1988 Pontiac created the Banshee, (the second Pontiac car to bear the name,) a sleek and functional concept car that tested some of the characteristics that Pontiac was studying. The Banshee included a Heads Up Display (HUD) to monitor speed and guages without having to look down, a rearward facing camera inplace of a rear view mirror, and adjustable fins on the rear of the car to add to or take away from its drag coefficient. The car turned heads wherever it went, and still does. It has been featured in countless car shows, and even a few films. In Night Rider 2000, "KITT" was made to resemble the Banshee (although poorly in my opinion,) even though the chassis was a Dodge Stealth. In Demolition Man, a movie about a milk-and-cookies future, the Banshee can be seen at least twice. The car is ten years old this year and yet its styling is still ahead of most production cars. As a possible future of the Firebird, Pontiac has created a concept car from time to time to test shape and substance. Other Pontiac prototypes include the Tomahawk, the Pegasus, and the Rageous. The crown jewel is still the 1988 Banshee, bright red, sleek, and in your face. A perfect example of the advantage of aerodynamics. The Banshee is what the Firebird may someday become. As time goes on, we can see styling cues given to the Fourth Generation Firebirds borrowed from the Banshee. Wide hidden headlights, hourglass fuselage, steeply raked windsheild, etc. The Banshee (and the fourth gen Firebird) are two of the best cars that have ever come out of Detroit.
March Focus color Banshee pics courtesy of KARR
© COPYRITE 1998 Flamberge
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