Automation Restomod Chapter 10: An 80s Revival

HelloHi · 29 August 2021 04:13

When most people hear the word Fiero, they think of foolish bodykits, outlandish modifications and teenagers in ditches. When we found out our latest project was to be a Fiero, man, we set out to change that ideology for good- in an unexpected way, as we usually do!

When we saw the notchback on the back of this Fiero, we thought, “Look at all this wasted space!” And so we got to work on making a custom shooting brake conversion, turning this small coupe into one practical looker. The mid-mounted engine was worked around by using extra cooling and an insulated bay, making sure that you don’t end up frying eggs while returning from the grocery store! Speaking of the drivetrain and engine, a 91hp tractor engine mounted to a slow 4-speed autobox simply doesn’t cut it for a performance vehicle. With a new, responsive 7-speed dual clutch transmission bringing this 460hp, twin-turbocharged V10 beast from 0-60 in just 3.2 seconds, this performance vehicle can go from the curving roads of the Cascades to the hardware store while still managing 29mpg!

As for the interior? The Fiero's original interior was uncomfortable, ugly and low quality. So what did we do? We designed from the ground up an interior that would put many hypercars to shame. Featuring acres of handcrafted Italian leather accented by large swathes of carbon fiber, 20-speaker Jay Beal audio and one of the largest screens in any car, this car is unlike anything else. With adaptive comfort suspension that can change how stiff it is on the fly, you can take this car to a track day and then waft down the highway in serenity!

STATS

3.5L V10 revving to 9,000rpm
460hp
7sp DCT
29MPG
RWD

GALLERY

abg7 · 29 August 2021 11:21

A hatchback Fiero with a heart from an early '90s F1 car? Now that’s definitely something I have never seen before!

ldub0775 · 1 September 2021 06:27

Submissions Are Now Open!

Always remember to triple check the rules before you submit, and remember to clone your car correctly

Edsel · 2 September 2021 20:57

Are license plates important? Is there any penalty for having the wrong kind?

ldub0775 · 2 September 2021 21:01

No penalty for incorrect license plates, and plates are not required, but recommended

AMuteCrypt · 3 September 2021 07:48

BESPOKE RESTOMODS PROUDLY PRESENTS...

The BRM Fiero "Borealis".

Summary

Ah, the eighties… One of performance motoring’s better ages, depending on who you ask. This decade brought us the Tessarosta, the Jalpa, the 944 and the 959. Mustangs were becoming sporty and comfortable again. Legends were being written in motorsport. Lauda, Prost and Senna were duking it out with others in Formula One. The World Endurance Championship was booming, with Lancia, Porsche, Jaguar and Mercedes duking it out. Rallying, meanwhile, hit its dizzying, dangerous apex with the insane Group B cars. The Borealis pulls loose inspiration from distant memories of those heady rally cars, but it is all original.

The only hints or remainder of the original car are the classic spoiler, and the new cursive Fiero badge. Everything else has been intensively remodelled, with a brand new set of custom-fabricated carbon fiber panels being used to make the body. These new panels provide a much more aggressive, race-inspired shape, loosely inspired by rally homologation models such as the Audi Quattro.

Engineering - The Aesthetic Parts

When you pull off the panels, it quickly becomes apparent that everything else has been changed as well. An incredibly flat, fully clad carbon undertray has been introduced, to decrease the drag of the car. This undertray utilises a “two-stage design”, with a channel running the entire length of the car above the main undertray, providing increased downforce and cooling compared to a solid front.

We have also added a custom cooling vent solution. Three vents are supplied, providing additional air to the front brakes, rear brakes, and engine. This cooling would normally provide substantially increased drag - but not here. Custom, computer-controlled, moveable carbon fiber vent covers are provided on these three vents. The renders show the front brake vents fully open, the engine vents half-open and the rear brake vents fully closed, but the three would likely be in similar positions while the car is in use. A custom rear diffuser has also been added, providing the majority of the car’s downforce.

Engineering - The Actual Numbers

The car uses a custom-made 1.6L inline four - but don’t let the reduced displacement scare you off. With all-forged internals, a 16-valve twin-cam design and a turbocharger, this engine puts out an impressive 220 horsepower, providing a maximum speed of 213 km/h and pulling you up to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds. The original engine and transmission mounts have been retained, with the engine being transversely mounted in front of the rear axle and sending all of that power to the rear axle. A seven-speed, dual clutch transmission connects the driver to the engine, providing the best experience available. Launch control, grippy tyres and an eLSD ensure that wheelspin is all but banished. Active, race-oriented suspension provides the ideal handling for aggressive, determined driving, and the large vented brakes help the car stop whenever it needs to. Additional time and attention has gone into just about every aspect of the car, with the team at BRM working hard to create the ultimate experience.

Interior

The interior relies on pursuing quantity over quality. A blue-and-white theme has been chosen for the interior, with carbon fiber highlights. Full six-point harnesses are supplied with dedicated mounting points for both seats, to ensure safety even on intense track days. A bespoke digital dash has been supplied, along with a screen on the main console. The seats and armrests are mounted to adjustable rails, able to be tweaked for comfort. That’s about the entirety of the interior - but don’t mistake simplicity for a lack of comfort, as BRM has managed to refine every single element for ergonomics and ease of use.

cake_ape · 4 September 2021 21:07

Mons Customs

Introducing the

Pontiac Fiero Inferno "F40"

Dear Mr. Williams,

Please accept this letter as our formal offer to restomod your beloved Pontiac Fiero. We understand your love for this vehicle and all the memories you have built in it, as well as your love for iconic sports and super cars. If you choose our custom shop, we guarantee the best experience in your custom modded Fiero that you can imagine!

STYLING

For this restomod, Mons Customs has decided to do something truly unique and quirky. We thought to ourselves, which iconic car still turns heads wherever it goes? Which car would a mid-engine sports car aspire to be? The obvious answer is the Ferrari F40! So we thought, why not make a Fiero-F40? It is guaranteed to be a hit on any track day!

DRIVABILITY

Due to the new all-wheel drive system, user-friendly 7-speed DCT gearbox, ESC with Launch Control, electric variable power steering, perfectly tuned brakes, and modern safety features, the car is extremely easy to drive and safe to handle. Due to its forgiving nature, you can push the car to its limits with ease, while still maintaining a healthy level of fun!

PERFORMANCE

Mons Racing replaced the original engine of the car with a powerful V6 - guaranteed to be one of the most powerful Fieros on the road today! The extremely light carbon fibre panels keep the car nimble, and the new pushrod active sport suspension keeps the car on the sporty side. With an acceleration of 3.8 s to 100 km/h, you are guaranteed to leave the plebs in the dust.

COMFORT

Mons Customs has taken all of its talent and resources to make this vehicle as comfortable as possible. On the mechanical side we swapped in a MultiLink rear suspension and installed a comfortable hydropneumatic system all around for the smoothest ride possible. The interior is fully rebuilt by hand and features high-grade materials all around, and includes the latest and greatest technology at your fingertips.

Mr. Williams, please find attached photorealistic renders of our vision for your Fiero and detailed specifications. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Mons Customs

Under the hood

Mons Racing has replaced the original engine with a 2.2L twin-turbo charged V6 putting out well over 300 HP! The engine is placed in a longitudinal orientation for that all-important power delivery - as well as improved looks for when you lift the hood. The engine itself boasts a beautifully colour-matched header unit.

The engine is mated to a seven-speed DCT gearbox and an eLSD, which feeds just the right amount of power to all four wheels through a modern all-wheel drive system. The car is further tamed through an ESC with LC. The suspension is swapped to a new active-sport pushrod system that is as comfortable as it is sporty. Rounding out the features are perfectly tuned, oversized vented disk brakes that allow for sporty driving, while remaining comfortable for everyday use.

Exterior

Mons Customs has totally revamped the looks of the Fiero - it is barely recognizable! The body panels have been swapped to all carbon fibre, which allowed us to remodel the car after a Ferrari F40. The car also features a brand new sports-yellow paint job. Other features include functional aerodynamic bits, including a rear wing and a front lip; Ferrari inspired rims; custom badging all around; and various accents. The F40 inspired vents are not only for show. We aimed to make them functional, and the car not only has enhanced engine cooling (compared to the original Fiero), but also much improved brake cooling through the new duct system. Finally, the car is fully road legal even according to modern standards, and features appropriate DRLs, side markers and lights, as well as a third brake light.

Interior

The Mons Customs team has taken painstaking care to make the interior of your Fiero as practical as it is comfortable. The entire interior is custom hand-built from the finest materials available. Main features include custom molded sports bucket seats, a custom dash with a large horizontal LCD screen behind the wheel and an oversized centre LCD, as well as the latest in HUD technology, a sports wheel with paddle shifters, sports-inspired controls, two cupholders, and ample storage. Of course, we also include our top-of-the line audio system.

Just Eye-candy

Edsel · 12 September 2021 14:19

[So the Fiero is a bootleg Italian sports car? Okay then…]

More about the Fispa 260

Owning an old car is infamously quite the pain, but they’re just so cool that you can’t help but dream. But what if you could have all the fun of an old car without any of the drawbacks? What if these beloved styles didn’t have to be a thing of the past?
That is the dream behind the Fispa 260.

The outside has been gracefully designed to integrate classic design cues onto a modern chassis, which the panels completely redone out of lighter aluminum, combined with improved safety features. The interior has been fitted with one of the most customizable computer systems available in any car today. And the looks, of course, speak for themselves.

Tuned for perfect handling dynamics, the mid engined, V6 Fispa Doesn’t let the weight and computer systems of modern technology get in the way of driving feel. All the modern computer systems are there, sure, but they can all be turned off, and the car certainly doesn’t need them; after all, the car went through most of it’s design with a placeholder carbureted engine, and with sandbags in place of the computers. Rest assured this car works just fine with arcade mode off.

Of course, if you decide to turn the computers on, you’ll certainly enjoy what you find; Aside from all the modern cameras and sport-modes and emissions-control and whatever, its got a pop-up wing, retractible sunroof (with velvet cover for style), active suspension, and even a simulated 5-speed manual! You can change how many and which gears are active, as well as how they’re shifted, on as much as a whim! And that’s only the surface!

Inside, we have not given up on combining classic style with modern convenience. With a horn-ring next to an airbag, a manual knob next to a 1080p HD display, analog dials above a footrest that looks like a clutch (and can serve as one on command), and so much more, you really can enjoy all the great things about yesteryear without any of the drawbacks!

Nor have we sacrificed practicality either. With enough space to actually fit people in the back, and a front-trunk that can actually hold stuff, it realistically could serve as a daily driver! And the passengers will be comfortable too; the trunk can be independently climate controlled, and the passengers even have their own HD screen, complete with an HDMI and AV ports, as well as the ability to simulate analog display!

Sure, there are cars that are faster, or more practical, or have some other neat trick. But how many cars do you know that were designed purely to be enjoyed? How many can completely change themselves by the hour to meet your needs? And how many boast this kind of elegant style while still being one of the most sensible choices around? Not many, I’d wager.

DuceTheTruth100 · 12 September 2021 22:25

I call this the F-Box1

Basically me practicing using 3D fixtures.

If nothing else, she’s a screamer going 0-62 in 2.9 seconds.

506hp coming from a Twin Turbo 3800 revving all the way to 7600rpm.

Yea…it moves.

Hello world.

Edsel · 12 September 2021 23:57

I get the impression that this is normal for ARM, but I just love how completely different and alien to each other the submissions in this contest are!

cake_ape · 13 September 2021 00:10

Yep, that’s pretty normal. Most briefs allow for pretty crazy stuff to happen. It’s one of the charms of ARM, and I’m glad you like it

And I’m very impressed that you managed to squeeze 5 full seats into the Fiero. It’s not a small feat!

ldub0775 · 13 September 2021 00:13

This was actually my intention when writing the brief! I like to encourage making weird stuff, and I am all for the diversity in submissions here

DuceTheTruth100 · 13 September 2021 00:21

I too am amazed at the back seats…I was like WHAAAAAT??? Back seats!!!

NoahC · 14 September 2021 19:50

Yinzer Automotive coupled with a custom car designer Killinger Intellectual Prototypes to come up with the Yinzer (KIP) Winger, a one off showing design with styling cues from multiple eras. It is a modern driving vehicle with a 6 speed dual clutch coupled to the special B version of our Master 8 engine. This stroked version, the MasterB8, is a 4.1 liter naturally aspirated configuration that has an excess of 400 horsepower and a lively 8,000 RPM. This (KIP) Winger might be a one off vehicle, but next year prepare for a MasterB8 in every Yinzer showroom with our new line of models.

Texaslav · 14 September 2021 22:24

Savage intakes, lowered roofline, epic rear wing, color-matched wheels. Looking mean, Mr. Superstar.

Restoration Design Proposal: Fiero LWS-R by Lonestar Labs

The LWS-R (LightWeight Sportscar) is an extensive rework of the Pontiac Fiero that transforms the barebones 1980s looks-only car into a much more capable machine that matches 2020 performance, safety and entertainment standards while preserving the fun, lightweight spirit of the original Fiero.

The body of the LWS-R will be a unit manufactured from scratch at Lonestar Labs to fit onto the original chassis with minimal modifications. It replaces the original vehicle’s fiberglass and steel panels with carbon fiber, and was designed as a re-interpretation of 1980s and 1990s performance design traits. Group B-size air ducts, flush fixed headlamps and a lowered, flat roof make for an aggressive look that the budget-constrained, mass-produced original Fiero couldn’t have hoped to pull off.

LED rear lights and sextuple square exhausts ensure the LWS-R looks good from all angles

To match this bold styling, Lonestar Labs plans to install its top engine for light transverse-engined cars: A reworked, direct-injected 3.4-liter Nein-maha V8. No camshaft issues this time around - just 370 naturally-aspirated horsepower and a 9200 RPM redline that redefine what a Fiero should move and sound like. A 7-speed dual-clutch AMT will be fitted to ensure that 62 mph will be reached in just 3.3 seconds, and a quarter-mile dispatched in the low 11-second range. Oh, and that throttle? It’s instant. Touch and go.

The entire powertrain is, as with the original Fiero, centered around the rear axle. It’s more substantial this time around - but actually lighter than the Iron Duke and its transaxle!

To harness all this awesome power, LWS-R will come with an all-control arm suspension, with horizontal arrangement of shocks and springs on the front and conventional vertical-mounted ones on the rear. The suspension is of active type, ensuring comfort at all times and fervor when necessary. Wide sports tires on color-matched 17-inch wheels keep the car nailed to the ground for a maximum lateral acceleration figure in excess of 1.3 G.

Be assured: It is a weapon.

The inside of the LWS-R is also a far cry from the basic, plasticky Fiero. It’ll be all leather and aluminum in here, with a modern digital dash and a handy touchscreen handling powertrain and suspension adjustment, radio and connectivity - but as the LWS-R Fiero was conceived as a driver’s car first and foremost, there will be a lever-actuated handbrake, stick and paddle gear shift controls, and a grippy, responsive 3-spoke steering wheel with stalk and button controls for all driving functions. We even reshaped the driver’s side to be a proper cockpit.

Just don’t drive into that wall…

Many have tried to fake the Fiero into some other sportscar - but should Mr Williams choose to apply the LWS-R treatment to his Fiero, we will make it into a sportscar unto itself. As long as he has $82,300 to spare, that is.

Bonus picture

Can you tell how painful this was to make?

ldub0775 · 15 September 2021 07:43

Submissions are now closed!

ldub0775 · 23 September 2021 00:58

Uhhhhhhh

Yeah, sorry for the wait. I’ve been juggling lack of free time and lack of motivation for the past couple weeks because Skool. Hopefully the rest of the reviews should be out soon™

The Bins

Michael Williams opened his email on a rainy Saturday afternoon, excited to find many proposals for his Fiero, but a few couldn’t make it to his shortlist

@DuceTheTruth100 - F-Box1

Michael started with the F-box1, an aggressive, angular take on the car. He heavily disliked the Crimson Chin front end styling, but generally liked the rear end. His fun ended when he saw the document detailing the proposed mechanical changes was corrupted, fault lying on the restomodding company.

(Car was not cloned correctly. The engine was original however, and I may have binned it for the engine alone: SOHC! 4000RPM TURBO LAG! IN 2020? No!)

@NoahC - Winger

Going to open the file for the Winger, Michael found it to be corrupted as well.

(Car was also not cloned correctly. A symphony of Vanilla fixtures. Has a 5V 60 degree v8, because reasons. The car was actually tuned rather decently from what I could tell, but the aforementioned v8 would have brought it down)

ldub0775 · 14 October 2021 00:50

The Reviews

Somewhat disappointed by the corrupted files from the first 2 entries, Michael found relief in the lack of any further rule breaking binnings.

cake-ape - Infero F40

Opening up his email, Michael found a rather beautiful entry in the Inferno F40 from Mons Customs, and with supposedly great stats all around, it seemed to have the performance to match the styling. This was however, before he saw the proposed engine tune: A 5 valve V6, 100 RPM of space between peak power and redline, and 3800 RPM turbo spool, with nearly half of the powerband rendered unusable. Seeing this monstrous oversight, Michael struck it from the list.

Top Ten Moments Taken Moments Before Disaster

edsel - Fispa 260

Scanning through his emails, Michael found the Fispa 260, a jaw-droppingly beautiful take on the car, with lovely 60s Italian styling sprinkled throughout. In the process of admiring the lines and curves, he thought, “Maybe I should check the engineering before immediately pulling the trigger,” And thank God he did, as it may have saved him. As good as the styling may be, its 60s looks are certainly backed by 60s engineering. A mere 140 horsepower while the competition have 400, 5 seats where barely 2 would fit, and comfort rivaling a Ford Festiva. This car is a beautiful museum piece, and should be admired, but it is not a driving machine. With an immense pang of disappointment and guilt, Michael struck it from the list.

AMuteCrypt - Fiero Borealis

When Michael opened up the files for the Fiero Borealis, the first thing he noticed was the styling redesign: “This is supposed to be a Fiero? How did they manage to make a Fiero look boring?” With the flat facia, it doesn’t have any easily recognizable flare, and the “BESPOKE” lettering looks tacky. Weird styling aside, the Borealis is a well engineered car, with a high revving Turbo I4 making 220hp, driven through a DCT and an E-LSD. It has pretty solid stats where it counts: with good drivability and great sportiness, as well as good fuel economy and low weight it would be a great weekend car.

HelloHi - Fiero Cascadia

Michael then came to the Fiero Cascadia, with a novel hatchback approach, he generally liked the styling very much, save maybe for the wheels, which look kind of tacky. The proposed stats are good too, with 460hp from a 3.5 liter V10 and a DCT, it has all the performance you could think to cram in that hatch, alongside great drivability and comfort. Its primary engineering oversight is a slightly laggy turbo, hitting peak boost at 3200 RPM. The Cascadia is very good, but Michael had yet to check out one last car.

Texaslav - Lonestar LWS-R

Opening up the Lonestar LWS-R, Michael was immediately stricken by how simultaneously modern and retro it looked: a callback to the 80s/90s in sports car form, with the box vents and the rear wing emanating style like nothing else. The engineering doesn’t let it down either, with a NA 400hp from a 60* Ford SHO V8, and immense sportiness. It would make for an amazing weekend/light track car, which is great given that’s most of the hole Michael wishes to fill. Its only real drawback is the noise, but with the intended use that’s no real issue.

After seeing the proposal from Lonestar Labs, Michael was very impressed, enough so that he immediately emailed back. They emailed back and forth for a time, before Michael dropped off the car. The process was of course worth the wait, with a beautiful crimson red supercar being delivered. The performance was as good as on paper, the styling was as good as in renders, and it purrs like a tiger.

Standings:

Edit: I was asked in the discord to share the spreadsheet I used to help with judging, feel free to play around with it!

Texaslav · 14 October 2021 03:33

First ever comp win, let’s go! I honestly didn’t expect this to happen. Thanks to Ldub for hosting this round and to everybody else involved for designing their own dazzling visions of a restomodded Fiero.

I have already discussed this with the good folks on the Discord, but it would be my honor to host the next round of ARM and in fact have already started work on that competition’s base car. It should be up before week’s end.

Texaslav · 17 October 2021 04:57

Uh next round’s up I think