What is a coupe?
15-07-2011, 10:24 AM
#1
What is a coupe?
I know that seems a stupid question 
However, I've noticed a trend that I don't understand. To me, a coupe is a car with two doors, that is long, sleek and sporty. Examples that spring to mind are the Honda Prelude, Toyota Celica, MR2, Fiat Coupe, 406 Coupe etc etc.
However, I'm sat watching TV and an episode of Fifth Gear comes on, and they do a test of a two eco-coupes, one of which is a Citroen DS3?! That's a hatchback?!
Then you look at the auto industry more widely. The Audi A5? Apparently that's a "four door coupe". Is it? It just looks like a saloon to me with slightly more swooping lines...
How about the VW Scirocco? Alfa Romeo Brera? Both nice looking cars, don't get me wrong, but not coupes; just pretty three door hatches?
Am I the only person that finds this utterly ridiculous? Manufacturers just seem to be chucking the coupe label onto anything and everything to try and make it look interesting.
Perhaps a slightly pointless thing to worry about, but never mind
However, I've noticed a trend that I don't understand. To me, a coupe is a car with two doors, that is long, sleek and sporty. Examples that spring to mind are the Honda Prelude, Toyota Celica, MR2, Fiat Coupe, 406 Coupe etc etc.
However, I'm sat watching TV and an episode of Fifth Gear comes on, and they do a test of a two eco-coupes, one of which is a Citroen DS3?! That's a hatchback?!
Then you look at the auto industry more widely. The Audi A5? Apparently that's a "four door coupe". Is it? It just looks like a saloon to me with slightly more swooping lines...
How about the VW Scirocco? Alfa Romeo Brera? Both nice looking cars, don't get me wrong, but not coupes; just pretty three door hatches?
Am I the only person that finds this utterly ridiculous? Manufacturers just seem to be chucking the coupe label onto anything and everything to try and make it look interesting.
Perhaps a slightly pointless thing to worry about, but never mind
Last edited by massivewangers; 15-07-2011 at 10:26 AM.
15-07-2011, 10:36 AM
#2
McGarrity Motorsport
mk polo coupe?
A coupé or coupe (from the french verb couper, to cut) is a closed body stye (permanently attached fixed roof), the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time. Coupés are often hardtopped sports car or sporty variants of saloon body styles, with doors commonly reduced from four to two, and a closed-coupled interior (i.e., the rear seat placed further forward than in a standard sedan) offering either two seats or 2+2 seating (space for two passengers in the front and two occasional passengers or children in the rear). Before the days of motorized vehicles, the word referred to the front or after compartment of a Continental stagecoach.
A coupé or coupe (from the french verb couper, to cut) is a closed body stye (permanently attached fixed roof), the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time. Coupés are often hardtopped sports car or sporty variants of saloon body styles, with doors commonly reduced from four to two, and a closed-coupled interior (i.e., the rear seat placed further forward than in a standard sedan) offering either two seats or 2+2 seating (space for two passengers in the front and two occasional passengers or children in the rear). Before the days of motorized vehicles, the word referred to the front or after compartment of a Continental stagecoach.
Last edited by NoRubNoDub; 15-07-2011 at 10:40 AM.
15-07-2011, 12:19 PM
#3
PassionFord Post Whore!!
I own a 1980's Ford ....... Coupe, and it only has 2 doors, as they should, but it doesn't have sweeping lines
However, 2 door classic Mini, not a Coupe.
2 door Mk1 Escort, not a Coupe.
If it's got a Hatchback then that's what it is, it can't be a Hatchback and a Coupe.
If it's got 4 doors, then it's a,,,,, 4 door saloon.
4 doors and a hatch,, 4 Door Hatchback.
I think Crossover is currently the worst description for a class of vehicle.
However, 2 door classic Mini, not a Coupe.
2 door Mk1 Escort, not a Coupe.
If it's got a Hatchback then that's what it is, it can't be a Hatchback and a Coupe.
If it's got 4 doors, then it's a,,,,, 4 door saloon.
4 doors and a hatch,, 4 Door Hatchback.
I think Crossover is currently the worst description for a class of vehicle.
15-07-2011, 12:40 PM
#4
yam yammer
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Stourbridge, West Mids
Posts: 2,761
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
I know that seems a stupid question
However, I've noticed a trend that I don't understand. To me, a coupe is a car with two doors, that is long, sleek and sporty. Examples that spring to mind are the Honda Prelude, Toyota Celica, MR2, Fiat Coupe, 406 Coupe etc etc.
However, I'm sat watching TV and an episode of Fifth Gear comes on, and they do a test of a two eco-coupes, one of which is a Citroen DS3?! That's a hatchback?!
Then you look at the auto industry more widely. The Audi A5? Apparently that's a "four door coupe". Is it? It just looks like a saloon to me with slightly more swooping lines...
How about the VW Scirocco? Alfa Romeo Brera? Both nice looking cars, don't get me wrong, but not coupes; just pretty three door hatches?
Am I the only person that finds this utterly ridiculous? Manufacturers just seem to be chucking the coupe label onto anything and everything to try and make it look interesting.
Perhaps a slightly pointless thing to worry about, but never mind
However, I've noticed a trend that I don't understand. To me, a coupe is a car with two doors, that is long, sleek and sporty. Examples that spring to mind are the Honda Prelude, Toyota Celica, MR2, Fiat Coupe, 406 Coupe etc etc.
However, I'm sat watching TV and an episode of Fifth Gear comes on, and they do a test of a two eco-coupes, one of which is a Citroen DS3?! That's a hatchback?!
Then you look at the auto industry more widely. The Audi A5? Apparently that's a "four door coupe". Is it? It just looks like a saloon to me with slightly more swooping lines...
How about the VW Scirocco? Alfa Romeo Brera? Both nice looking cars, don't get me wrong, but not coupes; just pretty three door hatches?
Am I the only person that finds this utterly ridiculous? Manufacturers just seem to be chucking the coupe label onto anything and everything to try and make it look interesting.
Perhaps a slightly pointless thing to worry about, but never mind
15-07-2011, 01:03 PM
#6
All depends, generally it's what you think and as said a two door car, with a sort of slanting roof line, the exception to this is like the Rover P5 which was available in both saloon and coupe derivatives, essentially there both saloon cars, just one has a lower (2 inches) slanting roof line.
Marina couple and Capri's are both coupes.
Also 2 door does not necessarily mean a coupe as you can have 2 door saloons such as a Cortina.
Martin
Marina couple and Capri's are both coupes.
Also 2 door does not necessarily mean a coupe as you can have 2 door saloons such as a Cortina.
Martin
15-07-2011, 04:35 PM
#10
Ben
A5 is available in 4 door.
Also, I don't tend to worry what a car is labeled as, if it looks good, fantastic, if it goes well, even better.
Also, I don't tend to worry what a car is labeled as, if it looks good, fantastic, if it goes well, even better.
16-07-2011, 10:31 AM
#20
Using my example:
P5 Coupe:
P5 Saloon:
Again look at the coupe Marina compared to the saloon:
Martin
16-07-2011, 10:44 AM
#23
3dr Cosworth owner
Its all crap lol. When the mk3 escorts were racing years ago. Didn't they call that saloon car racing? escort is a hatch to me. orion is a saloon isnt it? as mentioned above zero headroom identidies a coupe to me.eg capri. calibra. granada coupe. its just a name they use know i think to define somethhing witha sleek sloping roof.
Last edited by CosworthGuy; 16-07-2011 at 10:45 AM. Reason: .
16-07-2011, 11:25 AM
#26
Irregular Poster
what really bugs me is that a AE86 corolla piece of crap is dubbed "Corolla Twincam GT Coupe...although its a 3dr hatchback!!
looksy:
but yet the variant of it with 2 drs and a saloon back end is called a "Corolla Twincam BOOT Coupe"
looksy:
WTF...same front end, different sides and back end...yet both called coupes?????
looksy:
but yet the variant of it with 2 drs and a saloon back end is called a "Corolla Twincam BOOT Coupe"
looksy:
WTF...same front end, different sides and back end...yet both called coupes?????
16-07-2011, 03:05 PM
#29
10K+ Poster!!
17-07-2011, 01:54 PM
#31
Regular Contributor
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Look in your mirror.....to late now u can see my rear :D
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
yh i tend to class a couple as a 3dr with a low roof an hatch style boot . how ever this seems to have got a bit jaded as such over the last 10 yrs, the tradition coupe to me is eg the rover 220 tomcat 2dr long flowing rear an hatch style boot.
17-07-2011, 06:52 PM
#32
Ben
what really bugs me is that a AE86 corolla piece of crap is dubbed "Corolla Twincam GT Coupe...although its a 3dr hatchback!!
looksy:
but yet the variant of it with 2 drs and a saloon back end is called a "Corolla Twincam BOOT Coupe"
looksy:
WTF...same front end, different sides and back end...yet both called coupes?????
looksy:
but yet the variant of it with 2 drs and a saloon back end is called a "Corolla Twincam BOOT Coupe"
looksy:
WTF...same front end, different sides and back end...yet both called coupes?????
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
borboyous
Cars for Sale
6
22-08-2015 11:17 AM
