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Topic starter
05/11/2024 11:30 am
In my previous "Muscle Car" post, I spoke of blurred lines of automotive terminologies. Here are a few more.
Coupe: Many people think it's a two-door hardtop. A coupe is determined by a fixed roof vehicle's interior volume. Literally, a 4-door station wagon could be a coupe.
Backlite: Commonly referred to as a rear window.
Windshield or Windscreen: Front window
Rear Fender: Actually, on modern cars over the past 70 years or so, they are quarter panels.
Gas Pedal: The correct term is throttle pedal. Some people call it the gas pedal in electric cars. LOL!
Ignition: Actually, it's a switch.
Chassis and Frame: Two different things. The chassis is the entire undercarriage. The frame is a part of the chassis and is the backbone that carries the vehicle's weight.
Trunk Lid: Often referred to as just a "trunk."
Two-door: Frequently called a Tudor. That could be because Ford marketed a Tudor, and the term stuck.
Turn Signals: Blinkers
Semi Tractor Trailer: Often called a Semi Truck
Turn Signal Stalk: When used, apparently it is perceived as an automatic lane-clearing device.
Those are a few that come to mind. Do you have more?
05/11/2024 11:41 am
All VERY good. Mercedes took some heat a while back when calling the CLS a coupe when many others decried it a sedan but, you are correct, the coupe terminology really did apply. Same with ignition. So many cars have push button start, they are nothing more than a starting switch. Tractor and semi trailer - my wife has always called them transfer trucks. Drives me nuts! 
Marty Johnson reacted
05/11/2024 1:53 pm
Coupe: Many people think it's a two-door hardtop. A coupe is determined by a fixed roof vehicle's interior volume. Literally, a 4-door station wagon could be a coupe.
- I never thought a coupe was exclusively a hardtop, although it could be. But I always thought a coupe was a 2-door, that may or may not have a B-pillar, but always has a fixed roof. Your "...fixed roof vs. interior volume" definition is foreign to me. 🤔 🤔 🤔
- I have no issue with the rest of your post. 😀
Topic starter
05/11/2024 2:56 pm
@chris - Professor! Please reconsider the failing grade you gave me. In support of my claim, please read this definition from the SAE.
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) defines a coupe as a fixed-roof car with less than 33 cubic feet of rear seat space. The SAE's definition does not specify the number of doors a coupe has.
Christopher Moroni and Tony Perrone reacted
05/11/2024 3:11 pm
As an addendum, my C-5 Corvette (50th Anniversary 2003) came in three roof variants. It came as a coupe, a convertible and my Z06 only came as a "Fixed Roof Coupe" - as termed by Chevrolet. Top was not removable nor did it have removable panels.@chris - Professor! Please reconsider the failing grade you gave me. In support of my claim, please read this definition from the SAE.
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) defines a coupe as a fixed-roof car with less than 33 cubic feet of rear seat space. The SAE's definition does not specify the number of doors a coupe has.
05/11/2024 3:47 pm
@marty-johnson I understand... and have seen some 4-doors (all foreign ) referred to as "coupes." It's not so much about a failing grade as it is about me not knowing SAE's criteria. I've always thought a coupe was synonymous 2 doors. That's why I like this site.... I learn stuff! 😌
"Coupe" as defined:
coupe
[ko͞op]
noun
-
a car with a fixed roof, two doors, and a sloping rear.
-
historicala four-wheeled enclosed carriage for two passengers and a driver.
A coupe or coupé (/kuːˈpeɪ/,alsoUS:/kuːp/) is a passenger car with a sloping or truncated rear roofline and typically with two doors.
The term coupé was first applied to horse-drawn carriages for two passengers without rear-facing seats.[1][2]It comes from the French past participle of couper, "cut".[1]
Some coupé cars only have two seats, while some also feature rear seats. However, these rear seats are usually lower quality and much smaller than those in the front. Furthermore, "A fixed-top two-door sports car would be best and most appropriately be termed a 'sports coupe' or 'sports coupé'".[3]
Today, you can keep your crummy dollar! 🤨 🤨
This post was modified 1 year ago by Christopher Moroni
Marty Johnson and Tony Perrone reacted
Topic starter
05/11/2024 7:45 pm
05/11/2024 8:15 pm
@marty-johnson OK, so no money changes hands, this time.... 😏 🙃
To Marty's point: Here's a 2024 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 430i xDrive AWD 4-door. Yes, BMW calls this car a coupe, but I would refer to it as a 4-door sedan. Technically I would be wrong. 😔 😔 As I noted, I learned something today. Thank you "Professor Johnson." 😏
Tony Perrone and Marty Johnson reacted
05/11/2024 8:38 pm
@marty-johnson I ask myself how it is that this American organisation is using French language? The French Coupe and German Kurz refer to shortened chassis specifically for racing. Original Sports Coupes were not necessarily even fixed-roof cars. Simply the same engine capacity but with shortened Chassis to allow for one or two seats / occupants for competition. I would have greater faith in this organisation if they were using their own language.
05/11/2024 9:05 pm
Hmm,
Less than 33 cubic feet of rear seat space... I'm probably out of line here right now cuz I haven't done the research but what about a MBZ 450 SLC ?
Tony Perrone reacted
Topic starter
05/11/2024 9:42 pm
SAE, or Society of Automotive Engineers, is an international and not an American organization. Also, we've seen countless examples of how automobile companies sway from the technical definition and superseded by a marketing agenda they might have. The Corvette "coupe" is an example. It doesn't have a rear seat so how could its fixed roof configuration be considered a coupe? Technically, I think it should be a fixed-roof sports car. The convertible would be a "roadster."@marty-johnson I ask myself how it is that this American organisation is using French language? The French Coupe and German Kurz refer to shortened chassis specifically for racing. Original Sports Coupes were not necessarily even fixed-roof cars. Simply the same engine capacity but with shortened Chassis to allow for one or two seats / occupants for competition. I would have greater faith in this organisation if they were using their own language.
This post was modified 1 year ago 2 times by Marty Johnson
05/11/2024 10:05 pm
@marty-johnson At the time Coupe and Kurz terminology was being used in Europe SAE was definitely American.
Tony Perrone and Marty Johnson reacted