Spy Shots: Hyundai developing 4-door coupe?
The oxymoronic term 'four door coupe' has been thrown around a lot in the past few years, beginning with the seminal Mercedes-Benz CLS. While the Mazda RX-8, with its reverse-opening rear doors, may fit the bill a bit more accurately, the genre is primarily comprised of long and low sedans with deeply plunging roof lines. Pretty as they may be, these cars aren't the most practical choices for every day transportation, but they are proving popular enough that newcomers such as Volkswagen and now Hyundai are testing the waters with more mainstream vehicles. The Korean automaker's entry appears to be based on the Sonata mid-sizer and would likely be equipped with the same powertrain options as its less fashionable sibling. A budget model with a similar silhouette as more high priced offerings could be a winner and we hope something along these slinky lines could be on the drawing board using the Genesis sedan's underpinnings.
[Source: World Car Fans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
HAWC1506 7:40PM (10/21/2008)
Although I'm not into the term 4-door coupe, I'm not convinced this car is a '4-door coupe' like the CC or the CLS. This just screams 'saloon' or 'sedan' to me. I don't see any hints of a coupe+2 doors. It's probably just a redesigned mid-size for Hyundai.
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CarbonBlack 9:41PM (10/21/2008)
+1, that whole "4 door Coupe" phrase pisses me off!
hashiryu 12:12AM (10/22/2008)
I insist that the person who came up with that phrase, and the AUTO JOURNALISTS who continue to propagate it, need to be shot.
Jj 7:52PM (10/21/2008)
How far Hyundai has come....
My first thought was "I bet that will be nice"
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Level 5 7:41AM (10/22/2008)
Very true, look at what Hyundai USED to have. The Excel? Ouch man. Now we get the classy Genesis, sporty Genesis Coupe and a damn good alternative to the Camry and Accord in the way of the Hyundai Sonata. I've really taken a second look at the brand in recent years, and it seems they're only going up.
KeatMP 7:56PM (10/21/2008)
I don't care what the manufacturers call it...if it has four doors than it is NOT a coupe.
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Sid 8:00PM (10/21/2008)
Agreed. But this is the age where the car industry is selling us 'crossovers', 'SAVs' & 4-door coupes. And much like people watching 'New York Goes to L.A.'...you have to wonder who's sadder - the car companies coming up with these names or the customers buying into them.
bc 9:07PM (10/21/2008)
"Coupe" and "sedan" are terms that refer to styles of horse-drawn carriage. Their application to automobiles have been loose, but it has nothing to do with the number of doors, or whether the window glass has a frame ("hardtop", another loose term since all non-convertibles have hard tops, and now most convertibles have retracting hard tops). A 4-door coupe is not an oxymoron any more than a 2-door sedan is--proportions and roofline are better guides than number of doors.
tankd0g 8:23PM (10/21/2008)
I guess all the Civic 4 doors that share the same wheel base as the 2 doors are actually coupes then :)
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Chris 8:38PM (10/21/2008)
A coupe is a car that doesn't have a window frame for the front doors, a sedan does though, however you can have a 2 door sedan if it does have a window frame. I'm sure somebody would be able to give a more detailed description of what I just wrote.
tankd0g 8:42PM (10/21/2008)
Then I guess all Subarus are coupes?
Menice 9:26AM (10/22/2008)
i understand what your trying to say, but yea, my moms subaru legacy wagon has no window frame
MikeW 12:04PM (10/22/2008)
How about the Civic sedan and coupe do NOT share the same wheelbase
Coupe: 104.3"
Sedan: 106.3"
tankd0g 5:21PM (10/22/2008)
How about 6th generation and older which is what I was talking about? Main reason civic coupes have been such sloppy handing pigs compared to the hatches.
triboy16 8:42PM (10/21/2008)
2 questions.
1) how do u know its a hyundai (no badge visible)
2) i hardly doubt this is some kind of 4 door coupe. i bet its the 2011 sonata. The refreshed sonata will prob sell till 2009 but near the end of that year i can see this replacing it. kind of has mazda 6 written all over it
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anti-believer 9:11PM (10/21/2008)
That doesn't look anything like a 4 door coupe.
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The Weakonomist 9:32PM (10/21/2008)
I love the Genesis, and if I had the dough I'd love to have a 4-door coupe Genesis. The CLS is weird looking but I can't get enough of it when I see one. Can't wait to see the Passat CC soon too.
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Torrent 2:07AM (10/22/2008)
+1 on everything.
Brian 10:07PM (10/21/2008)
I can't wait to see what they can do with a 2-door sedan or a hard top cabriolet.
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Ray 10:35PM (10/21/2008)
Since we can stick any name now on whatever vehicle we want why not just call it a Pick-up.
Technically you pick people up in a car, so it could be deemed one.
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