Winding Road has posted a few spy photos of what looks like to be a new coupe from VW. According to the spy photographers, the car pictured here is a prototype of a new VW Phaeton coupe. VW is already given the go ahead for a new Phaeton in 2010 even though the first generation failed to attract many buyers.
The prototype in these photos is a heavily modified Audi A8, which has been shortened and widened. Unfortunately the photographers were unable to grab any more shots of the car because once the testers noticed the spies the car was quickly put into a truck.
So Winding Road says this is a new Phaeton coupe, but the guys over at eGMCarTech strongly believe that this is actually a test mule for VW's upcoming 4-door coupe. With the success of the Mercedes CLS, many other automakers are releasing their own four-door coupes and it has been rumored that VW could possibly have one in the works. eGMCarTech believes that this is a four-door coupe because of the existence of what looks to be rear doors under the camouflage. What do you think?
Click the link below to see the full photos.
Full Story:
Winding Road
eGMCarTech
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Comments (5)
Can someone please explain the difference between a 4 door coupe and a sedan ... as the definition of a coupe is a car with two doors.
Posted by Felix | July 18, 2007 2:12 PM
Posted on July 18, 2007 14:12
Typically, these days the term "coupe" is applied to the shape of the roofline, not necessarily the number of doors. The roofline of a coupe falls off quickly toward the rear, while the roofline of a sedan is more squared off.
Posted by WS | July 18, 2007 2:16 PM
Posted on July 18, 2007 14:16
What you mean "these days"? We cannot let marketing hype modify the meaning of words at will, that is stupid.
Coupe, hatchback, cabriolet, convertible, are all different terms, meaning different things.
For instance, according to Wikipedia: The SAE distinguishes a coupé from a sedan (saloon) primarily by interior volume; SAE standard J1100 defines a coupé as a fixed-roof automobile with less than 33 ft³ (0.93 m³, 934 L) of rear interior volume. A car with a greater interior volume is technically a two-door sedan, not a coupé, even if it has only two doors. (entry: coupe).
I'd say we should at least try to resist those Press Releases and marketing types. I'm sure the designers see the cars for what they are. It is much later that the hype comes. Like Twin Power Ford for a twin turbo engine. I doubt any engineer calls it Twin Power.
Posted by Sphere | July 18, 2007 2:32 PM
Posted on July 18, 2007 14:32
Most, if not all, car manufacturer's use "Coupe" for 2 door car's and "Sedan" for 4 door car's. Simple as that.
Posted by Kings | July 18, 2007 4:15 PM
Posted on July 18, 2007 16:15
The car companies aren't required to use the SAE definition in their marketing for cars. Otherwise, VW wouldn't be able to sell their "Phaeton", because the VW Phaeton is clearly not an actual Phaeton. Sorry, but the car companies can call their cars whatever they want to even if it irritates you personally. 4-door coupes have coupe-like rooflines...simple as that.
Posted by WS | July 19, 2007 2:17 PM
Posted on July 19, 2007 14:17