A coupé or coupe (from the French verb ''couper'', to cut) is a closed car body style (permanently attached fixed roof), the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time. Coupés are often hardtopped sports cars or sporty variants of sedan (saloon) body styles, with doors commonly reduced from four to two, and a close-coupled interior (i.e., the rear seat placed further forward than in a standard sedan) offering either two seats or 2+2 seating (space for two passengers in the front and two occasional passengers or children in the rear). Before the days of motorized vehicles, the word referred to the front or after compartment of a Continental stagecoach.

Pronunciation

In Europe (including the United Kingdom), the past participle French spelling, ''coupé'', and (mostly in English speaking countries) a modified French pronunciation ( ''koo-),'' are used. The stress may be on either the first or second syllable; stressing the first syllable is the more anglicized variant. Most, but not all, speakers of North American English, at this time, use the word coupe, the present tense French spelling (without the acute accent - ''coupe''). This was a gradual change from the French past participle occurring prior to World War II. A North American example of usage is the hot-rodders' term Deuce Coupe ("doos coop") used to refer to a 1932 Ford; this pronunciation is famously used in the Beach Boys 1963 hit song, Little Deuce Coupe.

History

In the 19th century a coupé was a closed four-wheel horse-drawn carriage, cut (''coupé'') to eliminate the forward-mounted, rear-facing passenger seats, with a single seat inside for two persons behind the driver, who sat on a box outside. If the driver had no roof over his head then it was a coupé de-ville. Commonly, a coupé had a fixed glass window in the front of the passenger compartment, The driver was protected from road dirt by a high curving dashboard. A landau is a coupé de-ville with a folding top. Where only the passenger compartment has a folding top but the driver remains covered, the style is known as a landaulet.

During the 1920s, the Society of Automobile Engineers suggested nomenclature for closed cars that included the following: ;Coupelet: A small car seating two or three with a folding top and full height doors with fully retractable windows. ;Coupé: An enclosed car operated from the inside with seats for two or three and sometimes a backward-facing fourth seat. ;Convertible coupé: A roadster with a removable coupé roof. (technically not a coupe, but some car companies try and cash in on the cachet the word coupe brings)

Through the 1950s opening-roof convertible automobiles were sometimes called drop-head coupés, but since the 1960s the term ''coupé'' has generally been applied exclusively to fixed-head models. Coupés generally have two doors, although automobile makers have offered four-door coupés and three and five-door hatchback coupés. Modern coupés often have the styling feature of frameless doors, with the window glass sealing directly against a weather-strip on the main body.

The Society of Automotive Engineers (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 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. By this standard, the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, and Mercedes-Benz CL-Class coupés are all two-door sedans. Only a few sources, however (including the magazine ''Car and Driver''), use the ''two-door sedan'' label in this manner. Some car manufacturers may nonetheless choose to use the word coupé (or coupe) to describe such a model (e.g., the Cadillac Coupe de Ville).

Alternatively, a coupé is often distinguished from a two-door sedan by the lack of a ''B'' pillar to support the roof. Sedans have an ''A'' pillar forward at the windscreen, a ''B'' pillar aft of the door, and a ''C'' pillar defining the aftermost roof support at the rear window. Thus with all side-windows down, a coupé would appear windowless from the ''A'' to the ''C'' pillars. These fixed-roof models are described as a hardtop or pillarless coupé. Though, to confuse things even further, there are many hardtop/pillarless two and four door sedans. Targa top, or just 'T'-top models are a variation on the convertible design, where the roof centre section can be removed, in one or two sections, leaving the rest of the roof in place. Yet another variation on the convertible or drop-head coupé is the fully retractable hardtop. In this form the car has all the adantages of fixed-head vehicle but, at the touch of a button, the entire roof lifts off, folds and stows away in the trunk (boot). Though retractables were tried many years ago by Peugeot, in Europe and Ford, in the US, with the Fairlaine Skyliner, it is only in the 21st century that there has been an explosion in the popularity of this bodystyle.

During the 20th century, the term coupé was applied to various close-coupled (rear seat that is located further forward than usual and the front seat further back than usual) automobiles.

Manufacturers have used the term coupé in several varieties, including: ;Club coupé: A coupé with a larger rear seat, which would today be called a two-door sedan. ;Business coupé: A coupé with no rear seat or a removable rear seat intended for traveling salespeople and other vendors who would be carrying their wares with them. ;Opéra coupé: A coupé de-ville with a high roofed passenger compartment such that the owners could be driven to the opera without the need to remove their large hats. These often had 'occasional' seats that folded for use by children or extra passengers, and allowed easy passage to the rear seats. These cars most closely approximated a motorised version of the original horse-drawn coupé. Often, they would have solid rear-quarter panels, with small, circular windows, to enable the occupants to see out without being seen. These opera windows were revived on many US automobiles during the 1970s and early 1980s. ;Sports coupé or berlinetta: A body with a sloping roof, sometimes sloping downward gradually in the rear in the manner known as ''fastback''. ;Four-door coupé: A sedan with classic coupé-like proportions. The designation was first applied to a low-roof model of the Rover P5 from 1962 until 1973, but was revived by the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLS, as well as other models including the 1992 Infiniti J30, the 2008 Volkswagen Passat CC, and the 2009 Jaguar XJ. However, the low roof design reduces back seat passenger access and headroom. (again these cars are not really a coupe, more a marketing ploy) ;Quad coupé: ''Quad coupé'' is a marketing name for cars with one or two small rear doors with no ''B'' pillar. ;Combi coupé: ''Combi coupé'' is a marketing term used by Saab for a car body similar to the liftback.

With the growing popularity of the pillarless hardtop during the 1950s some automakers used the term ''coupé'' to refer to hardtop (rigid, rather than canvas, automobile roof) models and reserved the term sedan for their models with a ''B'' pillar. This definition was by no means universal, and has largely fallen out of use with near-demise of the hardtop. Similarly, a Rover P5 saloon model came in a body style with a lower roof that was called a coupé. Technically, it was cut, as the original definition required, but it was not a shorter car body.

Today ''coupé'' has become more of a marketing term for automotive manufacturers, than a fact of the vehicle's design and technical makeup. They ascribe the term to any vehicle with two, three, and now even four-doors, for the term's perceived luxury or sporting appeal. This is because coupés in general are seen as sportier than sedans; hence a coupé would be marketed as a sportier vehicle than a two-door sedan. While previous coupés were "simply line-extenders two-door variants of family sedans", some coupés have different sheet metal and styling than their four-door counterparts. The AMC Matador coupe of the 1970s had a unique design sharing almost nothing with the 4-door versions.

Even 2-door cars with a backseat are now being referred to as "sedans" in which the terms "coupe" and "sedan" are used interchangeably. Two-door sedans with front bench seating have phased out with the late-90s Chevrolet Monte Carlo being the last model to offer it.

However, 2-door cars in general have fallen in popularity, with the popular exception of convertibles and 2-seat roadsters. Sedans, pickup trucks and SUVs/station wagons have had fewer 2-door models (especially ones with backseats) in recent years since the cost of 4-door cars has gone down along with engineering to ease access to the back seat area.

Gallery

See also

Car classification

Notes and references

Coupes Category:Car classifications Category:Car body styles Category:French loanwords

bs:Kupe (automobil) bg:Купе cs:Kupé da:Coupé de:Coupé es:Cupé fa:کوپه fr:Type de carrosserie#Coupé ko:쿠페 hr:Kupe id:Coupé it:Coupé lt:Kupė nah:Coupé nl:Coupé (auto) ja:クーペ no:Coupé pl:Coupé pt:Coupé ru:Купе (кузов) simple:Coupé sk:Kupé (automobil) sh:Kupe fi:Coupé sv:Coupé tr:Coupe uk:Купе

Rhys Millen (born in New Zealand), nephew of IMSA GTS driver Steve Millen, son of Rod and elder brother of Ryan, is one of the world's top competitors in drifting. Prior to that he was a top rally driver in the US, and became the first works backed driver from a car manufacturer with GM in 2004 after narrowly losing to Ken Nomura in the US D1 Grand Prix exhibition event in . In 2011 Millen will race a 500bhp AWD Hyundai Veloster in the US Rallycross championship.

Career

After an unsuccessful try at rally driving, Millen became just the second champion in the short history of the United States' top drifting series, Formula D, just a year after his good friend, Samuel Hubinette, became the maiden series champ. Millen has two wins in his Formula D career: the 2004 season finale at the Irwindale Speedway, and the 2005 season opener at the Wall Speedway in Wall Township, New Jersey. He became the highest placed non-Japanese driver in the US round of the D1GP event in 2005, making it to the last 8 after beating Masato Kawabata, only to lose to Yasuyuki Kazama through a "One More Time" rerun. Millen's father, Rod, also competes in drifting on occasion. In fact, Rod made his Formula D debut at the 2005 season finale at Irwindale, the same event where his son was crowned the champion.

Millen has driven a Pontiac GTO drift car for three seasons (Winning in 2004 and 2005, but losing out to Hubinette in 2006) and a Pontiac Solstice for the 2007 D1 Season. For the 2009 season, he will drive a Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Red Bull has been a major sponsor of Rhys' drifting efforts, as well as the paint schemes of many of his cars.

Besides racing, Millen is also a stunt driver for films such as ''The Dukes of Hazzard'', ''Mr. & Mrs. Smith'', and ''The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift''. He also did the driving for the first Hyundai Genesis Coupe commercial.

On December 31, 2008, he became the first person to back-flip an off-road truck in the air. He landed off-balance, forcing his vehicle to flip on its side a few times after landing, but then walked away unharmed.

In 2009, Hyundai teamed up with Millen to race the Hyundai Genesis Coupe at the Formula Drift Professional Drifting Championship, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and select Redline Time Attack Series events in 2009. On July of that year, Millen set a new rear wheel drive record to take Pikes Peak's time attack title.

Complete Drifting Results

(key)

D1 Grand Prix

Year

! Entrant

! Car

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! Position

! Points

! Pontiac

Pontiac Pontiac GTO>GTO

bgcolor="#EFCFFF"

2004 D1 Grand Prix Sugo>SGO

2004 D1 Grand Prix Ebisu>EBS

APS

2004 D1 Grand Prix Odaiba>ODB

EBS

2004 D1 Grand Prix Tsukuba>TKB

! 0

! Pontiac

Pontiac Pontiac GTO>GTO

bgcolor="#CFCFFF"

2005 D1 Grand Prix Odaiba>ODB

2005 D1 Grand Prix Sugo>SGO

APS

2005 D1 Grand Prix Ebisu>EBS

FUJ

2005 D1 Grand Prix Tsukuba>TKB

12

! 25

! Red Bull

Pontiac Pontiac Solstice>Solstice GXP

2006 D1 Grand Prix Irwindale>IRW

2006 D1 Grand Prix Sugo>SGO

FUJ

2006 D1 Grand Prix Autopolis>APS

EBS

2006 D1 Grand Prix Suzuka>SUZ

FUJ

! 12

! 25

! Red Bull

! Hyundai Genesis Coupe

bgcolor="#F0F8FF"

!

! 0

Formula D

Year

! Car

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! Position

! Points

2004 Formula D season

2004

! Pontiac

Pontiac Pontiac GTO>GTO

2004 Formula D Round 1>Rd. 1

2004 Formula D Round 2>Rd. 2

Rd. 3

2004 Formula D Round 4>Rd. 4

!

! Pontiac

Pontiac Pontiac GTO>GTO

2005 Formula D Round 1>Rd. 1

2005 Formula D Round 2>Rd. 2

Rd. 3

2005 Formula D Round 4>Rd. 4

Rd. 5

2005 Formula D Round 6>Rd. 6

1

!

rowspan="2"

Red Bull Pontiac

Pontiac Pontiac GTO>GTO

2006 Formula D Round 1>Rd. 1

2006 Formula D Round 2>Rd. 2

Rd. 3

2006 Formula D Round 4>Rd. 4

Rd. 5

2006 Formula D Round 6>Rd. 6

Rd. 7

rowspan="2">2

596.00

Pontiac Pontiac Solstice>Solstice GXP

! Red Bull Pontiac

Pontiac Pontiac Solstice>Solstice GXP

2007 Formula D Round 1>Rd. 1

2007 Formula D Round 2>Rd. 2

Rd. 3

2007 Formula D Round 4>Rd. 4

Rd. 5

2007 Formula D Round 6>Rd. 6

! 4

! 478.00

References

External links

IMDB entry

Official Site

Formula D profile

Rhys Millen Documentary Mad Skills

Rhys Millen Interview before attacking the Pikes Peak Hill Climb

Category:New Zealand racecar drivers Category:New Zealand rally drivers Category:Drifting drivers Category:D1 Grand Prix drivers Category:Living people Category:Formula D drivers

name	Jessy Matador
background	solo_singer
birth name	Jessy Kimbangi
birth date	October 27, 1982
origin	Democratic Republic of the Congo
genre	Zouk, Dancehall, Reggae, Hip hop, Coupé-Décalé, Ndombolo, Kuduro
occupation	Singer, Dancer
years active	2001–present
label	Wagram Records
associated acts	La Sélésao, Magic System
website	selesao.skyrock.com }}

Jessy Kimbangi better known by his stage name Jessy Matador (born 27 October 1982) is a singer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, currently residing in France.

Biography

Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 27 October 1982, Matador began his career as a dancer in 2001. He later joined the group "Les cœurs brisés" (The Broken Hearts) with whom he toured the United States, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Kingdom, Italy and Canada.

In 2005, he decided to create his own group called "La Sélésao" composed of members Dr.Love, Linho and Benkoff. The same members also formed the first edition of the group Magic System. In late 2007, they signed with Oyas Records before signing with Wagram Records in spring 2008.

They released their début single "Décalé Gwada" in June 2008, becoming one of the hits of that summer. On 24 November 2008 the group released the album ''Afrikan New Style'', a musical hybrid of African and Caribbean influences with more urban sounds. The style includes influences of zouk, dancehall, reggae, hip hop, Coupé-Décalé, ndombolo and kuduro.

In December 2008, they released their second single "Mini Kawoulé".

Eurovision Song Contest 2010

On 19 February 2010, it was announced by France Télévisions that Matador would represent France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, to be held on 29 May 2010 in Oslo, Norway with the song "Allez Ola Olé". Jessy Matador placed 12th in the final, which was one of France's better results in the 2000s.

Discography

Albums

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"| FRA |- ! scope="row" | Afrikan New Style |

Released: 24 November 2008

Label: Wagram Music

| 93 |- ! scope="row" | Electro Soukouss |

Released: 14 June 2010

Label: Wagram Music

|align="center"| 42 |- |}

Singles

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Title ! scope="col" colspan="10"|Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"| FRA

! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"| BEL (FLA)

! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"| BEL (WAL)

! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"| DEN

! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"| FIN

! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"| IRE

! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"| NOR

! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"| SWE

! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"| GER

! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"| UK |- |2008 ! scope="row"| "Décalé Gwada" |align="center"| 14 |align="center"| — |align="center"| 23 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center" rowspan="2"| ''Afrikan New Style'' |- |rowspan="1"|2009 ! scope="row"| "Mini Kawoulé" |align="center"| 16 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |- |align="center"|2010 ! scope="row"| "Allez Ola Olé" |align="center"| 1 |align="center"| 4 |align="center"| 13 |align="center"| 30 |align="center"| 7 |align="center"| 39 |align="center"| 5 |align="center"| 34 |align="center"| 17 |align="center"| 81 |align="center" rowspan="2"| ''Electro Soukouss'' |- |align="center"|2011 ! scope="row"| "Dansez" (feat. Daddy Killa) |align="center"| 86 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |}

Other singles

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Title ! scope="col" colspan="1"|Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| FRA (Club) |- |2009 ! scope="row"| "Y'a qu'à demander" | 15 |align="center"| ''Afrikan New Style'' |- |2010 ! scope="row"| "Bomba" | – |align="center" rowspan="2"| ''Elektro Soukouss'' |- |2010 ! scope="row"| "Une affaire de chut" | – |- |}

;Notes

¹ Digital Download

References

Category:1982 births Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2010 Category:French Eurovision Song Contest entrants Category:French male singers Category:French people of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo emigrants to France Category:Living people

az:Cessi Matador ca:Jessy Matador da:Jessy Matador de:Jessy Matador es:Jessy Matador fr:Jessy Matador hr:Jessy Matador lv:Žesī Matadors ln:Jessy Kimbangi hu:Jessy Matador nl:Jessy Matador ja:ジェッシー・マタドール pl:Jessy Matador pt:Jessy Matador ro:Jessy Matador ru:Матадор, Джесси sq:Jessy Matador sh:Jessy Matador fi:Jessy Matador sv:Jessy Matador tr:Jessy Matador uk:Джессі Матадор