What are supercar doors called?
The most common term is scissor doors, also called dihedral doors, which hinge at or near the A-pillar and rise upward with little outward swing. Other well-known styles include butterfly doors, gull-wing doors, and falcon-wing doors, each defined by a different hinge geometry and opening arc.
Beyond naming, door design shapes the car’s silhouette, access convenience, and packaging for the cockpit. This article explains the main terms, how the mechanisms differ, and which models helped popularize each style.
Common door styles used in supercars
Here is a quick guide to the principal door designs you’ll encounter in high-performance cars, outlining how they open and what makes each one distinctive.
- Scissor doors (a.k.a. dihedral doors): The door pivots along the hinge near the A-pillar and rises vertically or almost vertically, often staying close to the body. This style is strongly associated with Lamborghini models such as the Countach, Murciélago, Aventador, and Huracán, and is also used in some Koenigsegg designs.
- Butterfly doors: A variation of scissor doors that opens outward and upward with a wing-like motion, creating a wider opening angle. They appear on various concept cars and select limited-production models across brands.
- Gull-wing doors: Hinged at the roof and opening outward in a wide arc, resembling seagull wings. Iconic examples include the classic Mercedes-Benz 300SL and the modern Mercedes‑Benz SLS AMG, with other marques experimenting with similar concepts.
- Falcon-wing doors: A further evolution of gull-wing geometry with more pronounced curvature and travel. The most notable real-world example in production is the Tesla Model X (a high-performance electric SUV rather than a traditional supercar).
- Suicide doors: Doors hinged at the rear edge, opening toward the back. This configuration is rare in contemporary supercars due to packaging and safety considerations, but it has historical and concept-car usage.
These door types influence not only aesthetics but also ingress/egress, vehicle rigidity, weight distribution, and how a car sits in a showroom or on a street.
Notable real-world examples by category
Examples show how designers apply each door concept in production or limited-run vehicles, illustrating variations in execution and brand identity.
- Scissor/dihedral doors: Lamborghini Countach, Murciélago, Aventador, and Huracán; Koenigsegg CCX also employs a dihedral, upward-sweeping mechanism.
- Butterfly doors: Primarily seen in concept cars and select limited-production models across several brands.
- Gull-wing doors: Mercedes-Benz 300SL (historic), Mercedes‑Benz SLS AMG (modern production).
- Falcon-wing doors: Tesla Model X (not a traditional supercar, but a high-profile example of this mechanism in production).
- Suicide doors: Rare in current supercars, more commonly discussed in historical contexts or concept studies.
In practice, designers often blend ideas or adopt evolving hinge mechanisms, but the core names help enthusiasts and buyers communicate about a car’s look and engineering approach.
Why the door terminology matters
Knowing the terminology helps describe a car’s design language, engineering trade-offs, and the brand’s performance storytelling. For collectors and fans, door style can become a defining trait that adds to a model’s aura and historical significance.
Summary
Supercar doors are most commonly described as scissor or dihedral doors, with butterfly, gull-wing, and falcon-wing doors serving as notable alternatives. Each style hinges differently and creates a distinct opening, influencing both aesthetics and practicality. From Lamborghini’s upward-swing scissor doors to Mercedes’ traditional gull-wings and Tesla’s falcon-wing concept, door design remains a recognizable pillar of high-performance automotive design.
