Besides the performance, interior, and comfort of the vehicle, the design of the doors gives a special beauty to the luxury car. You might already know about some cool types of exotic car doors, but there are so many more shapes and sizes out there!

Stick around as we take you on a journey to explore the most popular types of doors that are loved by exotic car enthusiasts.

Types of Exotic Car Doors

Although it seems insignificant, the design of the vehicle door can give extra beauty to the exotic car. With the development of the auto industry and the appearance of exotic cars, the standard doors sometimes didn’t fit into the design. Therefore, many exotic car manufacturers designed unique doors that reflected the model and its extravagance. In addition, such doors contributed to improving aerodynamics and the car’s performance.

To find out more about the doors that have left an impression on many exotic cars, we have selected some exceptional designs that we hope you will like.

Scissor doors

This type of car door was designed in 1968 by Marcello Gandini and was used on the Alfa Romeo Carabo concept model. Although first presented on an Alfa Romeo model, scissor doors became popular on Lamborghini models.

Although many people equate scissor doors with butterfly doors, there are still several features that distinguish them. Scissor doors are attached to the vehicle, with a hinge located on the front of the door. They also use a scissor joint located in the front upper corner, and thus, the door can be opened vertically upwards.

These doors are recognizable in Lamborghini models such as Diablo, Murciélago, Centenario, Reventón, and Countach, so some call them Lambo doors. Some other car models that used such types of doors are:

• Bugatti EB 110
• Gumpert Nathalie

Pros

• They open in the vehicle track, allowing you to drive with the doors open
• It is easy to get in and out of such cars in tight spaces due to the vertical opening
• You are less likely to hit a cyclist when opening these doors

Cons

• These doors may creak after a long period of use
• They are difficult to open in case of a traffic accident

Butterfly doors

As the name suggests, butterfly doors are inspired by butterfly wings. These doors sometimes resemble scissor doors with certain differences. 

With butterfly doors, the hinge is located along the A-pillar of the vehicle, which allows the door to open upwards and outwards. This way, the doors open wide, giving the driver enough space to enter or exit the car.

In addition to having an aesthetic feature, these doors are also known for their practicality. Unlike conventional doors that are difficult to open if you park in a tight parking space, this is not the case with butterfly doors.

Such door types can be found in several vehicle models, which are characterized by impressive performance:

• McLaren models – F1, 720S, P1
• BMW i8
• Ferrari LaFerrari
• Ferrari Enzo
• Mercedes-AMG ONE
• Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Pros

• They are easy to open and close
• They are convenient if you park in tight spaces

Cons

• The ceiling can damage the door if the ceiling height is not sufficient
• In a traffic accident, it is more difficult to get out of a car with a butterfly door

Gullwing doors

Gullwing doors are inspired by the wings of a seagull. These doors were first introduced on the Bugatti Type 64 by Jean Bugatti in 1939.

Gullwing doors use hinges mounted on the roof, allowing them to open vertically. Such a design allows the driver to enter and exit the vehicle more easily, and they need a little side clearance to open.

The unique design and functionality of the gullwing door didn’t stop in the automotive industry. This type of exotic door is also used in aircraft construction. Such is the case with the SOCATA TB series, a four-seater aircraft manufactured by the French company SOCATA.

This iconic car door can be seen on several car models, such as:

• Mercedes Benz C111
• Mercedes Benz 300SL
• Mercedes SLS AMG
• Mazda Autozam AZ-1
• Melkus RS 1000
• Pagani Huayra
• Tesla Model X

Pros

• They take up less clearance to open compared to traditional doors
• Opening the doors upwards allows for a wider entrance, making it easier to get in and out
• Gullwing doors allow easier access to the rear seats

Cons

• If the car flips over and rests on the roof, it is impossible to get out

Suicide doors

The name of these doors is associated with driving safety. In the past, there were no seat belts, so there were more safety risks for both passengers and bystanders. If these doors didn’t close properly, there was a high probability that they would be torn off, and the passengers would fall out of the vehicle.

Suicide doors have a similar closing mechanism to conventional doors. But unlike them, suicide doors have hinges on the back of the door frame. Accordingly, they open horizontally towards the rear.

Although they used to be popular on many luxury vehicles, they are rarely found today. The most popular models that have suicide doors are:

• Spyker D12
• Lincoln Continental
• Rolls-Royce Cullinan
• Rolls-Royce Ghost
• Rolls-Royce Dawn

Pros

• Easy access to the rear doors of the car
• Comfortable and effortless seating
• Uncomplicated installation of a child seat

Cons

• There is a possibility that the doors will open at high speed due to aerodynamics
• The driver and rear passengers cannot exit the car at the same time

Canopy doors

This type of door is rare, and you will hardly notice them on newer models of exotic cars. Although such a door does not have an official name, it is also known as a bubble canopy, articulated canopy, cockpit canopy, or canopy door. The inspiration to create such car doors came from the doors found on jet fighters.

The characteristic of these doors is that they represent a whole unit of roof, windshield, and sides. Also, the hinges can be placed anywhere, so there are cars with doors that open upwards, backward, and sideways.

Unlike many car doors, the canopy door can be opened without obstructing the access of other road users. Furthermore, this design doesn’t obstruct the pavement, which is ideal for parking in tight parking spaces.

Popular models with canopy doors are:

• Lamborghini Egoista
• Nova Sterling Kit
• Renault Trezor
• Human Horizons Concept H

Pros

• You can park in tight parking spaces and get out of the car easily 
• In such vehicles, a pillar is not required because they don’t have a side door

Cons

• In bad weather, when it rains or snows, it is impossible to get out without getting the interior wet
• If the vehicle has a traffic accident, the passengers must break the windshield glass to get out

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are scissor doors called Lambo doors?

Although scissor doors can be found on many exotic cars, they are still called Lambo doors. This popular name of these doors has been associated with Lamborghini since scissor doors were used on several of its exotic car models.

Why are 2-door cars called 3 doors?

If someone mentions a three-door car, they include the car’s trunk. In the case of hatchback cars, the opening of the trunk is considered as an entrance for the car. The same kind of reasoning applies to the five-door cars.

When were doors added to cars?

The first car doors appeared around 1923, almost 40 years after the appearance of the first car. It is characteristic of such doors that they are quite heavy and require force to close. The reason the doors appear later after the car’s innovation is due to the engineers’ priorities. In the beginning, they focused on creating simple cars with two seats.

Was the first car made by hand?

Yes, the first car was made by hand. At that time, cars used technology that was intended for making horse carts and bicycles. The first car to be produced on a production line was Karl Benz’s Velo in 1894.

Conclusion

Conventional car doors, although they are the most used, are not always practical. That’s why, today, there are more types of exotic car doors where the designers consider comfort and ease of use.

We hope that the article helped you to familiarize yourself with the types of exotic car doors. Remember that this list is not exhaustive, and we have yet to see clever and practical door designs on exotic vehicles.