During the early part of the 20th century, coupes may have been revolutionary in their design, but today they are a common fixture on the road. Almost always conceived to be sporty and sleek, the coupe is at a crossroads, as modern-day drivers are demanding versatility and practicality but refusing to sacrifice sports car aesthetics or performance. “Companies are trying to create the functionality of a four-door car, but with the style of a two-door coupe,” says Mike Fairbairn, cofounder of RM Auctions, a Canadian collector-car auction house. “The car companies are viewing coupes as more appealing to buyers, but suffering from a lack of practicality. [They’re] trying to bring the practicality into the design.”
Built to perform like sports cars, today’s coupes and GTs share similar interior configurations, though not all conform to traditional coupe design. If you’re seeking a car that quickens your pulse as its engine revs, but still delivers everyday functionality, you’ll do well behind the wheel of a coupe. We’ve highlighted several that prove that even in a diverse auto market, an important place still remains for a two-door, four-passenger speedster.
Maserati GranTurismo MC Sportline
On the surface, Maserati’s new GranTurismo MC Sportline ($128,505) displays no real diversions from the other models in its GranTurismo range. But as the old adage goes, appearances can be deceiving. Branded with the MC (Maserati Corse) distinction, which links the Sportline to the company’s FIA GT1, GT4, and GranTurismo Trofeo racers, Maserati’s latest road car does more than simply share the MC name.
At its core, the Sportline is a GranTurismo S with aerodynamic and visual enhancements including two carbon fiber front deflectors and a carbon fiber rear spoiler, as well as carbon fiber door handles and mirror casings. A bevy of other optional packages exist beyond that, which can alter the car’s suspension and exhaust system. A 4.7-liter V-8 engine powers the Sportline from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, and with a top speed of 183 mph, this GranTurismo tour de force earns its racing stripes in every conceivable way.
Mercedes Benz CL 65 AMG
Some have criticized Mercedes’ 2011 CL 65 AMG ($210,175) for having an uninspired appearance, but the more than 6,000 owners who have purchased CL-Class models since the range debuted in 2007 will attest to the beauty of their performance as the real selling point. Unlike its counterpart, the CL 63, which carries what some would argue to be the more advanced engine of the two—a 5.5-liter, twin-turbo V-8—the CL 65 gets its power from an established 6-liter V-12. A pair of turbochargers enhances that familiar engine, however, and together they produce 621 hp and 738 ft lbs of torque available from 2,000 to 4,000 rpm.
Capable of sprinting from zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, the CL 65 is the faster of the two models. And even though its top speed is electronically limited to 186 mph, this coupe comes equipped with AMG’s five-speed transmission in sport, comfort, and manual modes, which assures a friendly and fast jaunt for any driver.
Porsche 911 Turbo S Coupe
Understanding this new Porsche 911 Turbo S coupe ($160,700) requires a trip back to 1974, when the German brand first unveiled a turbocharged 911 at the Paris Motor Show. At the time, sports car ideology followed the simple premise that size equaled power. But Porsche, with its Boxster frame and 3-liter, 6-cylinder engine, refuted such a notion.
The 911 Turbo of today is modeled around the same principle—that efficiency demands performance. Direct fuel injection improves power output, torque, and engine response, and a double-clutch gearbox shortens gear-shift times, eliminates power flow interruptions, and improves efficiency, thanks to a long-ratioed seventh gear. And while it adopts a traditional Porsche 911 appearance, this Turbo S coupe doesn’t act like a traditional 911. With the ability to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in only 3.1 seconds and maxing out at 196 mph, the new 911 Turbo S coupe only resembles its less-capable peers at one junction in time—standing still.
Aston Martin DB9
It takes but one drive in an Aston Martin to recognize the brand’s unwavering commitment to performance and comfort. The brand puts major emphasis on producing a high-performance car that is not only fast but also stable at high speeds, and the DB9 ($191,615) just may be the pinnacle of the brand’s fleet.
Aerodynamic efficiency is a key component in all Aston Martins, and with the DB9, every element of the car, right down to its exhaust silencer, was designed with that in mind. All of the coupe’s major body and mechanical parts are made from aluminum, magnesium alloy, or lightweight composite materials, which give it a light and rigid structure. That feature, combined with a cabin design that sits the driver as low and as close to the car’s center of gravity as possible, provides the driver with a strong connection to the car’s maneuverability.
The front, mid-mounted V-12 engine and rear-wheel drive will grant you power and speed to your heart’s content, but you may want to ease off the throttle every once in a while, if only to give love-struck bystanders a thrill.
BMW Concept 6 Series Coupe
BMW’s Concept 6 Series coupe debuted at the 2010 Paris Motor Show in September and provides a glimpse into the future of the brand’s designs. Powered by a twin-turbo V-8 engine with either an 8-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission, the Concept 6 Series churns up 400 hp and 450 pound-feet of torque. Defined by a wide, low-slung, road-hugging frontend stance that further conveys a sporting temperament, this concept coupe also includes a full-glass roof that distinguishes it from the brand’s other models.
The Concept 6 incorporates elements found in other BMW models, such as the iDrive operating system that allows functions to be intuitively controlled and less distracting to the driver. But unlike many of BMW’s current models, the Concept 6 touts styling that is uniquely its own, which suggests some will love it, but others will not. BMW assures us that a production model is in the works, but there is no word on when that will be, or how much it will cost.
Jaguar XKR Coupe
Not to belittle its performance and other redeemable characteristics, but the Jaguar XKR coupe’s appeal may lie more in its potential as an investment in a British marque’s iconic—though soon-to-be fading—style. The brand has plans to unveil a new series of compact sports cars in roadster, coupe, and two-plus-two configurations, as well as a compact sedan, within the next few years. And given the brand’s recent reinvention of its XJ sedan, deductive reasoning suggests that a completely restyled XK series cannot be far behind.
But while the XKR ($96,125) begets a styling akin to the E-Type of the 1960s and early 1970s, it includes a few distinctive features all its own. For those who believe driving should be a complete, sensory experience, the XKR will not disappoint. Specially designed filters in the cabin stream in tones from the 5-liter, 510 hp V-8 engine, and within the exhaust system, a sequence of flaps open as the engine climbs in rpm, which encourages greater acceleration. Weighing more than 4,000 pounds, the XKR holds its own while cornering, but it’s in the straightaways where this coupe really delivers the goods.
Ferrari California
Designed to pay tribute to the 1957 250 California, Ferrari’s newest California ($192,000) is equipped with a direct fuel injection V-8 engine, and it joins the brand’s 12-cylinder 612 Scaglietti as an alternative in the grand touring category. In its design of this hardtop convertible, Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina constructed a classic, sculpted chassis with the passenger area pushed slightly toward the rear.
By contrast, the interior ushers in a new standard for future Ferrari grand tourers. Available with either two additional rear seats or a storage bench large enough to fit two light golf bags, both configurations include a fold-down rear seat back that provides additional storage space. But a Ferrari primarily is purchased for its on-road abilities; and this California’s 453 hp and top speed of 193 mph provide plenty of assurance that performance is never sacrificed.
Audi S5 Coupe
Perhaps the most understated of the lot, the Audi S5 coupe ($55,175) is subtle only in appearance. Beneath the hood, a 4.2-liter V-8 engine—a similar, albeit less powerful, variation of the engine found in the R8—produces 354 hp and 325 ft lbs of torque and propels the S5 to a top speed of 155 mph. It also takes the car from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. To harness that power, the S5’s suspension is designed with a lower stance, a higher spring rate, and thicker sway bars, all of which help to eliminate body roll.
Those familiar with Audi’s history and range will spot design cues reminiscent of the brand’s original Coupe Quattro, while a long hood and short rear deck conjure up images of classic Gran Turismos. The German automaker’s supercar also makes an appearance, as the wheel arches and shoulder line draw comparisons to the R8. Inside, S-design leather sport seats provide improved comfort and driver control for high-speed motoring, further blurring the line between a luxurious ride and powerful performance.
Bentley Brooklands
Named after the 2.75-mile racetrack just southwest of London where Bentley’s racing team claimed 73 victories during the 1920s and ’30s, the British automaker’s Brooklands ($340,990) is a departure from most other coupes. Enormous, ponderous, and heavy, it weighs just a few ticks under 6,000 pounds, but its 6.75-liter, twin-turbo V-8 does more than enough to mask its size. Backed by 530 hp and 774 ft lbs of torque, this British behemoth charges from zero to 60 mph in 5 seconds and peaks at 184 mph. For those seeking speedy coupe performance without traditional coupe styling, the Bentley Brooklands is the If the design of a coupe and a grand tourer is to provide a more spacious and comfortable interior concealed within a sporty appearance, the Brooklands becomes the car to which all others in its class aspire. With enough legroom and cabin space to comfortably fit four adults, and highlighted by wood veneers and leather hides, the Brooklands serves as a reminder that comfort and capability can coexist.
Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe
Rolls-Royce declares that its Phantom coupe (£274,100 or about $438,369) is the most driver-oriented model in the Phantom range, and while it would point to the car’s drivability as evidence of that, some critics would rather highlight the car’s cramped rear seating as more substantiated proof. With a design taken from the 101EX, an experimental car that the brand created to push its own limits, the Phantom coupe also borrows elements from the Phantom II Continental of the 1930s.
Weighing more than 5,700 pounds, the car is far from svelte, though it is constructed using the same aluminum space frame found in all other Phantom models. The coupe also shares the same V-12 engine, but a shorter wheelbase, greater rigidity, and adjustable electronics in the gearbox provide the driver with greater responsiveness. Inside, high-gloss veneers, soft full-grain leathers, and chrome fittings remind you that you’re driving a Rolls-Royce, and the optional starlight headlining—1,600 hand-placed fiber optic lights on a dark-pitched ceiling—provides a unique, though unnecessary, bit of flair.
Like any coupe, the Phantom is saddled with certain performance expectations, but a 5.6-second sprint from zero to 60 mph should appease most driver.
FORM & FUNCTION
The history of coupes and GTs reveals a subtle evolution in style and an overindulgence in marketing.
As automobiles became more prevalent after the turn of the 20th century, their novelty began to fade. Even so, automobile design still was rudimentary. “All cars were open cars,” says Mike Fairbairn, a cofounder of RM Auctions, a Canadian collector-car auction house. “[They were] two seats out in the fresh air riding on bicycle wheels with an engine under the seat.” As the automobile industry continued to expand, however, new iterations began to take form; and when the wealthy demanded different cars for different purposes, the coupe was born.
Today, the coupe is about as novel as free speech; every manufacturer produces one, and most serve as a brand’s flagship model. But in the years following World War I and lasting almost until the onset of World War II, the coupe was a style that conveyed wealth and served as a hallmark of the aristocracy. This was an era when carriage makers became coachbuilders, and a two-door, closed-roof car became the domain of a wealthy auto enthusiast who wanted to be behind the wheel, not behind a chauffeur. “In the ’20s and ’30s, they [coupes] represented a car that was more genteel,” says David Brynan, an automotive specialist at Gooding & Co., a California-based, rare-car auction house. “It was a car that, in any kind of [weather] condition, you were going to be comfortable in. They were very expensive and extravagant, but [the style] was more muted than an open convertible.”
Bugatti and Duesenberg are two manufacturers that were producing high-end coupes at this time, but the teardrop design crafted by automakers like Talbot-Lago also proved to be highly desirable. “It wasn’t a new body style that suddenly came along,” says Fairbairn. “It was more that it was the first closed car, and it gave people the opportunity to be indoors while driving.”
The late 1930s marked the end of an era when individuals owned numerous cars for numerous functions, and within a few years the coupe became a canvas for an engineer’s newest visions. “By the ’40s and ’50s, all the sketches and designs of a car were for a coupe,” Fairbairn says. “They’d adapt a basic coupe design into the other forms for marketing, but if you really wanted to know what a designer thought of a car, go back to the coupe.”
When it comes to a GT, however, there is a bit more ambiguity behind the definition, at least by today’s standards. But beginning in the late 1950s, during a time when coupes had established themselves as the main expression for designers, a “Gran Turismo” carried significant weight. “It was the philosophy of a high-speed, long-legged car that was suitable for touring,” says Fairbairn.
Brynan, who agrees with that description, points to the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 as perhaps one of the best examples from that era. However, he believes that the designation of a GT has grown murky in more recent years. “Each company has their own idea of what the perfect grand touring car is,” he says. “You can blur the lines between a sports car and a grand touring car.”
Fairbairn, by contrast, takes a more critical view of the GT’s evolution. “It’s overused to the point where it doesn’t really mean anything,” he says. “That’s the reason the nomenclature became diluted, because manufacturers applied it to everything.”