Are coupes pretty much history these days?

[300bhp/ton]

Sort of leading on from the "Cabrios" thread.

But what's happened to all the coupes?

Seems Europe and especially the UK are infested with hatchbacks these days. But what if you'd still prefer a tin top coupe?


I think there are several market segments, but the traditional sports car, such as the Triumph GT6, MGB GT and Triumph TR7 FHC.

Since the early 80's there haven't been many cars in this sector. RX-7 and Porsche 924 maybe, although either less every day friendly or a segment or two higher.

Ok we've had rag top sports cars like the MX-5, MGF/TF, S2k and MR2 MKIII, but non have been offered as a tin top coupe.


Then you've got the less sporty and maybe more style orientated segment, such as Toyota Celica's, Ford Probe then Cougar, Puma, Tigra, 100NX, Calibra, 220 Turbo. Does anyone still make a car like this?

I don't think Ford or Vauxhall even offer a coupe version anymore. Ok VAG have the Sirocco, but it's really just a 3 door hatch, not a coupe.


Next up are the more full size and higher performance coupes, often RWD ones. RX-8, RX-7 (FD), 200SX, 300ZX, 3000 GTO, Capri, Supra.

All bar the 370z seem to have gone too.


Sure if you're looking at buying a supercar or high end performance car you've still got plenty of choice, just not in the rest of the market for most people, e.g.

Buyer 1	Buyer 2	Buyer 3
They want a compact, light weight focused 2 or 2+2 coupe. Pref RWD, with a peppy engine and enough power without making it uneconomical to run. They want it as an alternative to an MX-5 type car but with a roof	Is a prime candidate for something like a Focus ST, Mazda 3 MPS, but they simply don't want a hatch nor need the space it offers. They want the same ability/performance, but in a more stylish sleek looking package.	Wants a performance coupe, but doesn't have Porsche Cayman money. What choice is there on the new market?

I know BMW still sell coupes and I personally like the 1 Series. Not sure a 330 really cuts it though, sure it might have 2 doors, but it looks like the saloon variant, which for many simply misses the point of wanting a coupe in the first place.

[marcosgt]

I must admit, it's hard to think of one currently in production that you've not mentioned (I'd count the Scirroco, personally, the roof line is too radical to be just a 2 door hatch), but Toyota and Subaru are releasing one soon and you might count the Alfa 4C (certainly would if you count the Cayman as a coupe).

They had a phase of disappearing before, though, in the 80s, but they came back. I'm sure they will again.

The latest 'coupe' hitter is the 4 door coupe like the A5 - ooh there's one - 4 door, Passat thingy and the Merc CLS, all swoopy looking shapes even if they have 4 doors (The RX8 does too ).

I suspect the 4 series will be more aggressive than the current 3 coupe (Why make a car with nearly every panel different to the saloon and yet end up with it looking so similar? A little 6 series would be good!).

A bit early to write the coupe off yet, I think, even if there is a bit of a hiatus.

M

PS After a bit of thinking, isn't there a Megane coupe too? Although it has a hatch, I don't think that automatically disqualifies a car from being a coupe, personally.

[Codswallop]

I think its a reflection of market trends. Look how popular 4 door 'coupes' have become in recent times. People no longer get 'pure' coupes because they are too indulgent and too limited in what they do. These days, everyone seems to expect their car to do everything (much like a new mobile phone).

Additionally, now that cars run for 20,000 miles between services and now that younger individuals aren't even able to get into motoring due to rising costs of motoring and their seeming need to have an £800 iphone, the latest tablet etc. cars have fallen way down the pecking order, and people just want something to get them from A-B. There are far to many other distractions to show off your style I guess, and people never get into motoring proper to appreciate an uncomfortable and comprimised drivers car.

Lastly, the costs of creating unique fun to drive coupes like those fom 15-20 years ago are just too high given all the latest regualtions, hence why we end up with generic platform sharing coupe style hatchbacks like the TT and Scirocco.

[g7jhp]

No lots of coupes around from A5 to 911!

[Podie]

Wish they'd imported the MX-5 coupe to the UK. Pretty sure that would have sold.

[Podie]

300bhp/ton said:

Ok VAG have the Sirocco, but it's really just a 3 door hatch, not a coupe.

Audi TT?

[MSport Calendar]

I think folding hardtops are the new coupés.

[Podie]

MSport Calendar said:

I think folding hardtops are the new coupés and cabrios.

EFA.

[Snowboy]

I think there's a lot of overlap between a 2 door 'car' and a coupe.
The 1 series coupe is sold a coupe, but I've seen people argue it isn't.

I agree with an earlier poster.
I think a lot of people don't go for Coupe's because they are impractical – and a lot of people don't have space in their lives for an impractical car.

And, from a marketing PoV, if you're going to make a coupe these days, you might as well make it a convertible with a folding metal roof – because then you get several market segments with one car… perhaps?

[kambites]

I think it just comes down to demand - why would anyone want a coupe version of a small sports car when modern cars can be suitably stiff, warm and dry in cabrio form? Lets not forget that small sports cars pretty much vanished completely until they were resurrected by the Japanese; obviously when the market segment came back into being, manufacturers simply decided that soft tops had come on so far that there was no demand for hard-top versions.

Coupes, as they exist now, tend to be less practical versions of saloons and hatches, rather than more practical versions of sports cars. I don't really think using the same word for the body-style of a 3-series coupe and a Cayman is very helpful, but that's the terminology we have...


Why would the buyers in the above example not just buy a cabrio and never put the roof down? Besides, buyer-2 is clearly who the TT, Brera etc. are aimed at.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 27th October 09:41

[5lab]

audi tt
pug rcz
porsche cayman
volvo c30 (bit of a push)
bmw 3 series coupe
bmw 1 series coupe
the new subaru\toyota thing that's coming out
370z
crossfire (do they still make that? I'm not sure)
mini coupe
407 coupe
laguna coupe
alfa brera
honda insight
elise? (not sure if they're all rag tops)
exige


The market has been eroded by tin-topped convertibles though, such as
z4
slk
renault wind\vauxhall tigra (not great cars, but the equivilent of the puma/tigra back in the day)

but I'd say there's still a few out there

Edited by 5lab on Thursday 27th October 09:38

Edited by 5lab on Thursday 27th October 09:39

[phil1979]

Alfa? GT and Brera...

[Zaxxon]

Peugeot 407 Coupe sitting on my drive at the moment.

I far prefer Coupes, 2 doors are just better styled. 3 series coupe for me next.

[kambites]

He's talking about coupes based on small (cheap) sports cars, rather than two-door saloons or hatchbacks. Basically a cheap coupe based on a platform that has been designed from the ground up as a drivers' car.

[5lab]

kambites said:

He's talking about coupes based on small (cheap) sports cars, rather than two-door saloons or hatchbacks. Basically a cheap coupe based on a platform that has been designed from the ground up as a drivers' car.

I think that's more a result of platform engineering in general, than a reduction in coupes though. very few cars are truely engineered onto a unique platform (mazda seem to do it with a couple of their cars, but not many others)

[RicksAlfas]

phil1979 said:

Alfa? GT and Brera...

Sadly out of production now.

[V88Dicky]

Let's establish what a coupe actually is first, shall we?

My take on a coupe is either;

A two door body on a saloon platform with perceived enhanced performance e.g. Audi A5

or,

a purpose-built two door car with enhanced performance e.g. Mazda RX8

HOWEVER, I don't think any car with a hatchback, ie boot and rear window all in one, can be called a coupe. The Scirocco would fall into this category, along with quite a few supposed 'coupes'.

And 'four door coupe', WTF? That'll be a saloon then

Just my 2p worth.

[300bhp/ton]

doogz said:

I was driving behind a Xsara VTS today. The owner had stuck a "Coupe" badge on it. Not sure who he thought he was fooling.

Peugeot make their RCZ thing, Audi sell shed loads of TT's,, and A5's (if they qualify?) and Nissan have sold a handful of 370's. Do Porsche still build the Cayman?

I forgot about the RCZ. TT's yep, but doesn't leave much choice.

Cayman is most certainly a coupe, but seeing as you'd need £40,000-45,000 to realistically buy a new one, I think they need to be counted in a more premier league of motoring.

[5lab]

V88Dicky said:

Let's establish what a coupe actually is first, shall we?

My take on a coupe is either;

A two door body on a saloon platform with perceived enhanced performance e.g. Audi A5

or,

a purpose-built two door car with enhanced performance e.g. Mazda RX8

HOWEVER, I don't think any car with a hatchback, ie boot and rear window all in one, can be called a coupe. The Scirocco would fall into this category, along with quite a few supposed 'coupes'.

And 'four door coupe', WTF? That'll be a saloon then

Just my 2p worth.

I'd disagree. for instance

v8 vantage
audi tt
corvette
porsche 928, 924, 944, 968
z4 coupe
350z

I'd agree that 'hatch styled' coupes (scirocco, c30, brera) aren't really coupes, but there's lots that have a 'hatched' back in my opinion

[300bhp/ton]

MSport Calendar said:

I think folding hardtops are the new coupés.

Thing is, they aren't though. As they still suffer all the foibles a soft top convertible does... leaks, wind noise and most importantly lesser handling dynamics and a higher curb weight.