Coupe

A coupe is a car body style traditionally defined as a fixed-roof, two-door passenger car with a sporty profile. In common usage, coupes emphasize styling and performance, and may seat two or four occupants. Because there is no universally accepted definition, some sources restrict a coupe to two doors and a fixed roof, while others describe certain four-door models with a coupe-like silhouette as coupes for marketing reasons.

Historically, the term originated in Europe in the early 20th century to describe compact closed coachwork. Through the mid-20th century, two-door configurations with a short wheelbase and a low roofline became the archetype of the genre, often featuring a 2+2 seating arrangement but with limited rear headroom.

More recently, automakers have used the term four-door coupe or gran coupe to refer to four-door cars that imitate coupe styling. These vehicles offer two doors in the sense of design cues, but retain four doors for practicality. The classification remains contested among enthusiasts and industry guides, and marketing departments may apply the label to broaden appeal.

Design characteristics of traditional coupes typically include a long hood, a massing toward the front, a sloping roofline, and a cabin that prioritizes front-seat comfort. Practical drawbacks can include reduced rear-seat space and trunk space compared with conventional sedans. Common contemporary examples of two-door coupes include the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro; gran coupes include the Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS.