The motoring industry has come a long way since
the early days of the Benz Patent Motorwagen in 1886. Designed by Karl Benz, the man later
responsible for founding Mercedes-Benz, it resembled a tricycle, and is widely
viewed as the first car in history.
Similarly, the coupe has
evolved massively.
The Carriage
With roots in the 19th
century, these vehicles were initially carriages drawn by horses. The only
thing they really share in common with their current day counterparts is that
they boasted four wheels and a lack of rear-facing passenger seats.
Being the vehicle of
choice for those with status, most coupe carriages featured a glass window,
which protected the passengers from flying debris. Due to the success of the
carriage, the early manufacturers of cars recognised the potential to
incorporate the body features into their designs.
The 20th Century Coupe
Cars had taken off by
the time the 1920s came around. Manufacturers had started to produce a variety
of coupes, which were defined by their closer forward rear passenger seats and
further back front seats.
In order to provide the
motoring industry, and the growing consumer bases around the world, a clearer
idea of what coupes were, the Society of Automotive Engineers – now known as
the SAE International – moved to suggest a definition.
It stated that coupes were
enclosed vehicles operated from the inside that featured enough room for two or
three people – including the drivers. However, it also recognised that some
variants also, albeit not that many, featured a fourth seat that faced
backwards.
Examples during this
period included the Ford Model B, and the Packard One-Twenty. Stylistically
these vehicles set the standard for this particular style of car – exuding huge
amounts of class and elegance. The luxuriousness of these cars has had a
lasting impact, with many modern coupes offering masses of comfort in their
interiors.
Post-World War II, with
growing economic prosperity, cars became more accessible to the masses. This
resulted in considerable innovations, such as the widespread release of
opening-roof convertibles. However, by and large, most coupe models do not
feature retractable roofs.
Now
Now coupes don’t follow
a universal definition. From car manufacturer to car manufacturer, the general
idea of what coupes are differs quite significantly.
Rather than referring to
a type of car body, the term now tends to be used in reference to the levels of
luxury a vehicle can provide motorists. This has been evidenced by the rise in
two, three and four door vehicles – as opposed to the original two-door set-up
of the first coupes – that have been marketed to motorists as coupe cars.
One could argue that the
coupe has simply evolved with the times.
Larger two door cars –
like coupes – have seen their popularity fall amongst motorists, so by adapting
their coupe offerings to feature three and four door models, it could be that
car manufacturers have just catered to demand.
However, with cars like
the MINI Coupe, the Peugeot RCZ and the BMW 4 Series, the modern definition of
this particular style of car is likely to continue for many years to come.
Author Bio:
Louisa
Jenkins loves cars. She documents her love of cars - from Peugeot coupe models to hatchbacks - in her blogs
posts.