Originally Posted by martinbo

Marcus, it's hard to put across but as I see it, the idea of the premium small coupé is to up the stakes in desireability by building on the looks of the donor sedan (in this case I have to assume that the forthcoming B8 A4 will promote a logical lineage with the A5) without detracting from the core model identity. In this way the coupe derivative is sleeker, more svelte but instantly recognisable for its place in the line-up. Look at C and CLK, 3er and 3er Coupe.

These are not halo models in the R8 (please don't get me started on that one - there's no accounting for personal taste) vein but rather aspirational iterations of otherwise rather regular automobiles.

That curvy swage line is bound to elicit some criticism, clearly it's a rather glaring element in two dimensional pictures. But wait until you see it on the road, I'm betting, because not only does the line curve in the vertical plane - it also curves, in and out, on the horizontal it appears. And that always makes for some dramatic proportion in the metal.