It's a "lifestyle" thing, for all the millennium people that are really into "style" and "prestige".
Additionally, it lets BMW sell more cars, as it's figured out how to sell small production runs and make money.
there have been four door coupes going back to the fifties if not further. originally coupe was to differentiate between twoxtwo or twoxzero, b-pillarless or lowered streamlined roof with less rear volume than it's twoxtwo counterpart which had traditional three box design. to make matters even more complicated in certain instances it is used to describe driver's seat positioning. if the current marques were to remain true to the name they could make a four door coupe without a b-pillar and still be in line with it's original definition but from what i gather (with my limited knowledge of auto design and marketing) is that it has become a buzzword for a hatchback like styling without using the term hatchback since it is often perceived in a negative like in the NAR markets.
audi's "sportback" variant of the s5 is most likely one of the best designs audi has come up with in recent years sadly not available in the US (for now?) the bmw version is the 4gc and the a7/s7/rs7 (i have to assume) competes with the 6gc. while all four door cars they are essentially called "coupes" but in reality they're hatchbacks by another name cleverly marketed as sportier counterparts.
I thought every variations cost millions of dollars because of the stupid American government and EPA?! Something has gone terribly wrong at roundel. Did Fiorina take over or something?
there have been four door coupes going back to the fifties if not further. originally coupe was to differentiate between twoxtwo or twoxzero, b-pillarless or lowered streamlined roof with less rear volume than it's twoxtwo counterpart which had traditional three box design. to make matters even more complicated in certain instances it is used to describe driver's seat positioning. if the current marques were to remain true to the name they could make a four door coupe without a b-pillar and still be in line with it's original definition but from what i gather (with my limited knowledge of auto design and marketing) is that it has become a buzzword for a hatchback like styling without using the term hatchback since it is often perceived in a negative like in the NAR markets.
audi's "sportback" variant of the s5 is most likely one of the best designs audi has come up with in recent years sadly not available in the US (for now?) the bmw version is the 4gc and the a7/s7/rs7 (i have to assume) competes with the 6gc. while all four door cars they are essentially called "coupes" but in reality they're hatchbacks by another name cleverly marketed as sportier counterparts.
I can tell you the "coupeback" (haha) is very useful and the power up/down is really useful. My CA said they can't make em fast enough and they fly off the lot. So all us badge whores must be on to something [emoji16]
I couldn't care less if they call it coupe or a sedan. However, the 4GC does have real virtues relative to the 3GT, the F30, and the F32.
Some of these virtues are stylistic (it's a lot better looking than both the F30 and the 3GT, some are performance (lower center of gravity and a more planted feel), and practical (hatchback).
When it's time to replace my E90 I will definitely consider a 4GC.
The valets last week thought it would be funny to park my EBII 335i next to a EBII 435i GC. As we were walking up to the cars my wife asked what the difference was. I told her the GC is a 4 door based on a 2 door which was based on a 4 door. Her response was, "huh".
Then the owner of the 435i GC walked up and commented to me that he couldn't tell which car was his. On account of the styling being so awesomely distinctive, I suppose.
Historically, coupes and sedans were not defined by the number of doors. It comes down to how many pillars, rear seating for two vice three, rear interior volume, and rear roof/window slope. Ever wonder why they call a particular car a "4 door sedan"? Because 2 door sedans also existed.
Google coupe and sedan definitions . It is interesting how things got misconstrued over the years.
Today most assume a coupe has two doors and a sedan four. Manufacturers have for the most part followed that logic to keep things simple.
Historically, coupes and sedans were not defined by the number of doors... Google coupe and sedan definitions... Today most assume a coupe has two doors and a sedan four. Manufacturers have for the most part followed that logic to keep things simple.
Sedan is four doors in a three-box body style.
Coupe means cut in French.
Coupes were sedans, with the rear two rear doors deleted, and the third box or trunk blended into the middle.
That's how I have understood it since my father bought a new 1948 Cadillac Series 62 2-door coupe, and google agrees.
The BMW 4-door is a sedan called a coupe because the third box or trunk is blended into the middle box.
I know that no one cares, but here is the definition of "coupe" from Merriam-Webster ...
Definition of COUPÉ
1: a four-wheeled closed horse-drawn carriage for two persons inside with an outside seat for the driver in front
2: usually coupe : a 2-door automobile often seating only two persons; also : one with a tight-spaced rear seat ***8212; compare sedan
It seem to me that traditional definitions of words no longer mean anything in today's society. If people want to use a word differently, then the meaning of the word can change. Look up "coupe" in a few years and we may see an entirely different definition. To me, it isn't a "coupe" unless it has only two doors (and an outside seat for the driver?).
It's a gimmick and it's not a real thing. Manufacturers are trying to redefine the word coupe and it's working - just look at all the suckers in this thread.
You are absolutely right, but why should the manufacturers not do it if it's making them $h!tloads of money. Just look what happened simply by relabeling trucks "SUVs".
I couldn't care less if they call it a Coupe, a hatchback, or whatever. Suits me perfectly and I think it looks much better than a 3 Series for about the same price. Don't get why 3 series owners get so worked up about it though...
I haven't seen anybody get worked up about the 4-series. A little head-scratching and maybe a little poking fun, but it's all in good fun.
I personally think BMW should've gone further with the styling. I know 4-series lovers think it looks really distinctive, but to me it's too close in looks to the 3-series. It does look good for sure, I just think it's a bit of a missed opportunity for BMW stylists to flex their muscles. See the 5-series vs 6-series as an example of what I'm talking about in terms of making the models distinctive.
Well, I take a few weeks off from the forums; I come back and we're talking about all the same things. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose...
By now I've seen 4GC and 3GT cars in the wild. I agree that the concept sounds similar between them, but they look a lot different in person to me. The 4GC slings low and looks smaller than it is; the 3GT looks really big, especially in back.
I kind of think the 3GT and the X4 look a little more similar than the 3GT and the 4GC, when they are all right in front of you.
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