There have been many interpretations of the term coupe over the years, but the general definition still stands. It’s usually a 2-door car with a fixed short-roof, and usually a version of an already existing sedan. Recently, however, automakers have been labeling pretty much anything a coupe. This way, we now have coupe crossovers, sedans that are referred to as coupes, and who knows what else if this trend continues.
The good old coupe has always been seen as a more desirable option than a comparable sedan despite its lower practicality scores, and that’s what the automakers want to take advantage of today. No one can deny that coupes are genuinely sexier than sedans, and by labeling something a coupe, modern-day carmakers hope to turn attention to their coupe-branded select vehicles, regardless of whether they actually qualify as one.
Despite the wide range of use for the coupe label, there are still many real coupes out there and that’s what we’ll focus on this time. Without further ado, here are the best 2020 coupes we can expect to see in our near future.
09. 2020 Toyota Supra
The iconic Japanese sports car has finally made a comeback after a two-decade absence, and numerous rumors and speculations that kept the Supra die hard’s busy all these years. Debuting at the 2019 Detroit auto show, the 2-door, 2-seat coupe is born out of collaboration with the BMW which gets the new Z4 convertible out of the deal.
The fifth-generation Supra might not be what the purists have expected but it’s still one of the best available sports coupes right now. It’s one fine track car you can obtain for around $51,000. That’s how much the entry-level 3.0 trim starts from. The next-in-line 3.0 Premium models cost around $55,000, while the Launch Edition models initially required a little over $1,000 more than that although all 1,500 have already been sold since.
The Mark five Toyota Supra is lightweight, nimble, and quick beyond what any Supra enthusiast probably could have expected. That’s another reason why we still think it’s a great car in spite of its shortcomings. And these shortcomings are more of a necessity, born out of collaboration with the BMW.
At launch, buyers will only get the BMW’s 3.0L twin-turbo inline-six mill which is capable of putting up 335 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of twist, and sprinting to 60 mph from a standing start in 3.8 seconds.
Sadly, one of the biggest disappointments is the fact that the all-new Supra won’t be offered with a manual gearbox. Instead, a smooth-shifting ZF 8-speed automatic does an excellent job, but Supra purists would have preferred a 6-speed stick – at least as an option.
The 2020 Toyota Supra will be built upon year in, year out, however, hence we can hope the Japanese will eventually fulfill their wishes. What they’ll certainly do is to offer a more affordable 2.0L turbocharged inline-four engine at a later date. In any case, I’d say the new Supra has gotten off to a good start and can only get better in time.
08. 2020 Porsche 718 Cayman
Cayman for a coupe, Boxster for a roadster. In short, that’s the major difference between the two extremely similar 2-door sports cars that even share the same platform. With that out of the way, the mildly redesigned Porsche 718s have already made their debuts for MY 2019, while MY 2020 has given us the performance-oriented Cayman GT4.
The 2020 Porsche Cayman coupe, logically, sports a single strip of rear LED tail-lights and a new interior, among other things. It retains the 718’s hallmark lightweight body, superb handling, and exquisite driving dynamics, however.
At the moment, the 718 Porsche coupes cost between $57,000 and $81,000 for the base Cayman and Cayman GTS, respectively. The performance-oriented Cayman GT4 starts from just over $99,000, however. Interestingly enough, the drop-top actually undercuts the Cayman by some $3,000.
The current Porsche Cayman powertrain lineup is rather simple and straightforward. The base Cayman sports a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine tied to either a 7-speed PDK auto or a 6-speed manual transmission, while the Cayman S and GTS models profit from a larger 2.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder mill that retains the same transmission setup. The former develops around 300 horsepower while the S and GTS models make 350 and 365 ponies respectively.
The Cayman GT4, on the other hand, uses a much larger 4.0L naturally aspirated straight-six capable of delivering 414 horsepower and 309 pound-feet of torque, and redlining at 8,000 rpm. The previous generation Cayman GT4 was exclusively available with a 6-speed stick, and that’s the exact setup we’ve been provided with in the 2020 Porsche Cayman GT4’s. A PDK gearbox (6-speed) is only available with the Clubsport track-focused version of the car which also gets a different 3.8L flat-six engine.
Regardless of what happens, the Porsche 718 Caymans will remain some of the best 2020 coupes out there.
07. 2020 Honda Civic Coupe
The tenth-generation Honda Civic debuted in 2016 and received a mid-cycle makeover in 2019 which means that the 2020-year models carry over unchanged. The Civic coupe was available almost straight out of the gates, and unlike the Accord coupe which has been cut from the next-gen lineup, it’s going nowhere at the moment.
After the mild facelift from last year, the Civic coupe is now slightly sharper-looking and more in-tune with the rest of contemporary Honda range. It also gets new wheels and standard automatic emergency braking.
The Civic coupe also retains a comfy and agile ride, and traditionally high safety and reliability scores. Although the coupe isn’t as practical as its sedan or hatchback siblings due to an evident lack of rear-seat headroom and cargo space, people opting for one don’t do so for the mentioned reasons anyway.
The Honda Civic coupe is available in two different versions – the conventional model ranging from $19,500 to $26,500 and the sporty Si that starts at $24,000. The former is available with either a 158-horsepower 2.0L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine in lower grades or a 174-horsepower 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder mill in upper trims. Both are available with either a a 6-speed manual or a CVT gearbox, also depending on a chosen trim.
The latter, however, sports a more punchy version of the turbo four capable of making 205 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque paired exclusively with a 6-speed manual. It also gets a number of other performance-related upgrades like different wheels and a rear spoiler.
Regardless of the chosen option, every Honda Civic coupe looks equally stunning and provides a tech-savvy package that’s affordable and, above all else, reliable.
06. 2020 Mercedes-Benz E Class Coupe
The fifth-generation E Class, internally called the W213/S213 is scheduled for a mid-cycle update sometime during 2020 as it’s one of the precious few German automaker’s lines that hasn’t already been substantially reworked in 2019. However, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz E Class lineup carries over without too many significant changes.
Unlike the previous generation, which shared its underpinnings with the C Class sedan, the current E Class coupes are finally related to their natural E Class sedan siblings. This makes them more spacious than the outgoing models, but don’t expect any groundbreaking improvements in that field. Especially not in terms of available cargo space – but that’s not one of the coupe’s main priorities anyway.
The Mercedes-Benz E Class coupe excels in offering a professionally balanced package of styling, performance, luxury, and comfort that you’ll be hard-pressed to find any other place. Starting from just under $64,000, the entry-level E450 coupes are relatively affordable considering what they offer, but the newly introduced AMG models find a way to erase any trace of affordability thanks to their exorbitant price tags.
Speaking of which, the AMG E 53 coupes are powered by a new 3.0L turbocharged inline-six engine bolstered by a mild-hybrid 48-volt system. The entire setup is good enough for 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque which are routed to all four corners via a 9-speed automatic gearbox.
The conventional E450 coupes, on the other hand, make do with 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque – courtesy of another 3.0L engine, only an older twin-turbocharged V6 this time. A 9-speed auto is present as well, but all-wheel drive isn’t mandatory as the E450 also comes in rear-wheel drive form.
The Germans are yet to disclose whether the sedan’s 255-hp turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder will make it to the coupe lineup as well.
Further down the line, the Germans are expected to treat their mid-range E Class coupes with even more powerful AMG E 63 S badging and everything that comes with it. Even a true plug-in hybrid model shouldn’t be excluded. For now, however, the base V6 and mid-range AMG models are everything the prospective E Class coupe owners really need.
05. 2020 Lexus LC
The most expensive and most powerful of all Lexus’ models is a coupe, no less. The strikingly beautiful Lexus LC has been drawing attention ever since it debuted in 2017, but it seems its exposure isn’t as high as the grand tourer arguably deserves. Sharp, athletic, powerful, and luxurious – these are only some of its traits that come to mind first.
The 2020 Lexus LC will only build upon the current model’s reputation without any drastic changes in design department. One major change will happen later on during 2020, and that’s the introduction of an all-new high-performance LC F coupe that might break the $100,000 sticker barrier. Another less significant is an all-new green exterior paint scheme.
Comparably, the conventional LC and hybrid LC 500h cost around $92,500 and $97,000. The upcoming Lexus LC F won’t be the first $100k LC model, however, since the current 100-unit-limited Inspiration Series based on the regular LC starts from just north of $108,000.
The entry-level Lexus LC sports a powerful 5.0L V8 mill capable of making as much as 471 horses and 398 pound-feet of twist. It’s tied to a contemporary 10-speed automatic transmission that drives the rear wheels.
The LC 500h hybrid, on the other hand, combines a 3.5L V6 internal combustion engine with two electric motors, a 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and a CVT hybrid transmission for a combined output reaching 354 ponies and returning up to 30 mpg combined.
The ultimate level of performance is reserved for the forthcoming LC F which should either draw power from an upgraded 5.0L unit or an all-new 4.0L twin-turbo V8 mill. Regardless of which of the two will make the cut, the LC F should easily generate an excess of 600 horsepower in order to compete with the likes of BMW M8 and Jaguar F-Type SVR.
04. 2020 Audi R8
Sitting atop the Audi range, the R8 coupe is outclassed only by its Spyder counterpart, price-wise. Starting from just over $170,000, the R8 coupe is unattainable for most, but we can’t hold that against it considering it’s been one of the best luxury sports cars ever since it arrived on the market back in 2006.
At one point, many sources suggested that the upcoming 2020 Audi R8 coupe might be one of the last R8 models since the Germans were apparently contemplating its discontinuation beyond that point. Don’t worry, though, for that ain’t gonna happen. The coveted sports car might have skipped MY 2019, but it’s making a comeback for MY 2020 – with a number of revisions to boot.
The R8 LMS Evo version of the R8 LMS GT3 race car presented at the 2018 Paris motor show, which sports a wide body kit that isn’t exactly a road version’s thing, has still inspired the facelifted model’s frontal and rear fascia. The rear-wheel drive V8 models have been dropped entirely (hence the price spike from $140,000 to $170,000), but at least every single R8 can now surpass the magical 200 mph mark.
The current generation Audi R8 coupe can only be ordered with a powerful 5.2L V10 mill capable of putting up as much as 602 ponies and 413 pound-feet of twist in the range-topping V10 Plus trim. The non-plus models, however, are “only” good for 562 horsepower and 406 lb-ft.
Both units are offered with a mandatory 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and as already mentioned, every single model now comes with a mandatory Quattro all-wheel drive.
The remainder of the pack costs as follows: the R8 Spyder starts from $182,000, the R8 V10 Coupe costs $196,000, and finally, the R8 V10 Spyder requires $208,000. We also have to mention the special 50-unit Decennium edition which costs $217,500.
If you think the above mentioned price tags are too steep, bear in mind the fact that the aforementioned R8 LMS Evo costs a whopping $460,000 before any optional upgrades.
03. 2020 Genesis G70 Coupe
The planned expansion of the Genesis lineup should be in full swing by the time MY 2020 arrives. Not only will the South Korean automaker field their very first crossover, but also a coupe version of the recently introduced G70 compact executive sedan.
Although details about the upcoming G70 coupe are still sketchy at best, the Koreans did file for trademark rights for everything between the GT60 and GT90. Presumably, the future G70 coupe will be branded GT70 if everything goes according to plan.
The coupe shouldn’t stray too far from its sedan sibling in terms of, well, pretty much everything. The styling will remain the same, albeit on a slightly shorter frame, and so should both the interior design and available technology and convenience features. The coupe should be slightly more enthusiastic when it comes to overall driving dynamics, but not by much.
Much like its sedan counterpart, the 2020 Genesis G70 coupe should draw power from a duo of powerful turbocharged engines. Base models will retain a 2.0L turbo four with 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque where more powerful versions should implement a 3.3L twin-turbo V6 worthy of 365 ponies and 376 pound-feet of twist.
Like the Kia Stinger with which the G70 sedan shares a platform, the upcoming G70 coupe will be available in both rear and all-wheel-drive configs. The G70 coupe will offer a standard 8-speed automatic transmission as well, and it’ll be interesting to see whether the coupe will also retain its sedan counterpart’s optional 6-speed manual gearbox as well.
All in all, the G70 coupe promises to be one of the more interesting options in the entry-level luxury segment and, like its sedan cousin, should start from well under $40,000.
02. 2020 BMW 8 Series Coupe
After years of absence, the 8 Series returns to claim its rightful place at the top of the BMW range. The all-new 8 Series coupe debuted at the 2018 Paris auto show and subsequently became available as a 2019-year model. The 2020 BMW 8 Series 2-door coupe is being joined by both a 2-door convertible and 4-door Gran Coupe model, but that’s beside the point here.
The proper 2-door 8 Series coupe continues into its second year mostly unchanged with only new paint schemes and interior trims added. Also, the Bavarians could have decided to iron out an issue or two, but one of the best 2020 coupes hasn’t gotten any significant issues at the moment anyway.
Priced at $88,000, the entry-level BMW 840i is anything but affordable, and subsequent variants’ prices will only get higher. Then again, personal luxury cars were always made for a select few.
The full BMW 8 Series lineup consists of three powertrain choices. The base 840i models use a 335-horsepower 3.0L inline six engine, while the more powerful M850i units utilize a 523-horsepower 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 mill. Finally, the range-topping BMW M8 unleashes either 600 hp in regular or 617 hp in Competition form from the latter engine.
Of course, to tame all that power and enable the 8 Series coupe to act with class, the Bavarians have included a number of advanced drive-enhancing bits as standard features. That way, every single BMW 8 Series coupe comes with active anti-roll bars, adaptive dampers, rear-wheel steering, and an electronically-controlled locking rear differential.
The 8 Series is arguably one of the most advanced BMWs to date and deserves to be in consideration among the best 2020 coupes we can expect to see.
01. 2020 Jaguar F-Type
Introduced in now-distant 2013, the F-Type coupe still looks as fresh as it did the day we first gazed upon its splendor. The 2020 Jaguar F-Type should – like its distant predecessor – spearhead a revolution of sorts for both the brand and the segment by offering a hybridized powertrain, but more on that later.
First things first – the next-generation F-Type is bound to appear sometime during 2020, but it’s still unclear whether the British will market it as a 2020 or 2021-year model. Regardless of what happens, the new F-Type will be as beautiful as pretty much any Jag these days – there’s no doubt about it.
Currently available for roughly anything between $60,000 and $120,000, the F-Type coupe also offers something for everyone, effectively spanning the gap between a luxury sports coupe and a touring car.
The current F-Type lineup offers a choice between no fewer than three distinctive engines with a corresponding number of choices in available cylinders. The base 2.0L turbo four makes 296 ponies and comes exclusively in a rear-wheel-drive config, paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
Next in line is a 3.0L supercharged V6 with either 340 or 380 horsepower which can be had in both the rear and all-wheel-drive configs, and with both an 8-speed auto or a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Finally, the range-topping F-Type R and SVR coupes offer the ultimate 5.0L supercharged V8 with either 550 or 575 ponies on tap. These can only be ordered with mandatory all-wheel drive and an 8-speed auto.
All future Jaguars beyond 2020 – the F-Type included – will be available with a version of an electrified powertrain, whether that’s fully electric or just mildly hybridized. No specific details have been revealed yet, but a mild-hybrid setup is the most likely of candidates for a sporty coupe of the F-Type’s pedigree.
