2010 Brings Forth Four-Door Coupe Onslaught

From the moment that Mercedes-Benz first introduced the CLS-Class to the world in 2005, competitors in just about every segment have been scrambling to offer what is now known as four-door coupes. While a traditional coupe has a sporty roofline and two doors, the new four-door coupes obviously have an extra set of doors, but they also exhibit similar proportions as their two-door counterparts. Four-door coupes many not be for everyone though as the sporty roofline usually limits rear-seat occupancy to just two passengers. Following the CLS-Class, this design grew in popularity to include entry-level luxury sedans such as the Volkswagen CC and sport utility vehicles such as the BMW X6, but future offerings will include a range of vehicles from a compact crossover up to a full-size exotic sedan.

Like the CLS-Class, most of the mew models are midsize sedans (in the four-door sense), and that trend will continue in 2010 and beyond. Current models already include the VW CC and the Jaguar XF, but neither automaker is done with this design. Jaguar recently took the wraps off its redesigned flagship, the XJ, which will finally break from the retro styling of its predecessors (that dated back to the late 1960s) and offer a fresh design based heavily on the smaller XF sedan. The redesigned 2010 Jaguar XJ will be an important launch for the British-based, Indian-owned automaker. The new XJ will make its official U.S. debut at the 2009 South Florida International Auto Show in Miami this October. As for Volkswagen AG, parent company to Audi, it also released details for a new sedan called the A5 Sportback. Based on its A5 coupe, the 2010 Audi A5 Sportback (pictured left) will retain the same basic shape of the two-door model, but will add a set of rear doors and a more spacious rear seating area. The 2010 Audi A5 Sportback will be roughly the same size as the Volkswagen CC, but it will use Audi’s sportier engine lineup including a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 and possibly a powerful, rev-happy V-8 if Audi decides to offer an S5 Sportback version.

Mainstream sedans definitely account for the majority of the four-door coupe offering, but now more exclusive cars are joining the party. Not many details are known about the Aston Martin Rapide, but based on a handful of pictures the automaker released the car will stay true to the timeless styling of cars like the Vantage and DBS. First revealed as a concept in 2006, the Rapide will make its official debut in early 2010 with seating for four and performance in line with other Aston Martin vehicles. Porsche will also use this body style to introduce its first-ever production sedan, the 2010 Porsche Panamera. With a styling derived from the classic 911 sports coupe, the Panamera will offer spacious and luxurious seating for four, a sporty, nimble drivertrain and chassis as well as a look that is sure to get it noticed.

The biggest news for this vehicle segment definitely includes sporty sedans, but SUVs seem to be making a push for popularity. Following the launch of the sleek BMW X6 last year, Acura will soon introduce its smaller, more affordable coupe-like crossover, the 2010 ZDX (pictured right). Unlike most of the other vehicles using this design, the ZDX is about as angular as an F-22 Raptor fighter jet. Using a similar design language as other current models in its lineup, the 2010 Acura ZDX has a polarizing exterior and a four-passenger interior. For more practicality, Honda will also be rolling out a smaller, more conservative crossover sporting the same sleek roofline, and it will be called the Accord Crosstour. Both of these stylish crossovers will make their official debut this fall.

Looking ahead to the near future, more automakers are said to be developing four-door coupes, but the trend seems to be limited primarily to European automakers. Audi, BMW and Volvo are expected to debut a model within the next couple years, and even Hyundai is said to be considering an entrant into this class. For BMW and Audi, the focus will be toward larger sedans possibly to compete with the Porsche and Aston Martin as BMW is considering the 8 Series and Audi possibly readies the A7. Volvo will most likely test the waters when it replaces the S60 sedan using a design that is expected to borrow heavily from the 2009 S60 Concept sedan. Finally, while no certain plans have been released, Hyundai seems to be pondering a four-door coupe that could possibly compete against the CLS-Class in terms of both luxury and style, but like the Genesis sedan it could start at a much lower price point.