Pontiac Fiero
The story of the Fiero is one of the greatest “what if” tales of the American car industry as this compact sports car caused a big sensation when it was introduced in the early ’80s. Everybody expected another GTO from Pontiac but got a small sports car that Italians might build. It was bold for Pontiac to introduce a compact, rear-wheel drive car with the engine positioned in the center of the vehicle and pair it with a five-speed manual transaxle gearbox (via Motor Trend).
This was the most advanced American production model for the day’s standards. Customers were pretty hyped by the Fiero. With its calm, modern design and advanced technology, the initial response was great. For example, 1983 sales figures were over 130,000 examples. Unfortunately, Pontiac didn’t develop the Fiero, and the early models were severely put together; engine power could have been better, and the interior was cramped. GM responded by upgrading the car, and by the end of the ’80s, the Fiero was a solid compact sports car with 150 hp from its 2.8-liter V6 engine and improvements all around.