Many car doors are designed to address specific needs, such as ease of access in tight spaces or enhancing safety features. Some car door styles have even become iconic, closely associated with certain luxury brands and their commitment to combining form with function. Nowadays, automotive companies design different types of car doors with functionality and ease of use in mind. And yet, this is driven by positive customer appeal.
How Car Doors Are Made Of
Car doors are complex components crafted from a variety of materials to ensure durability, safety, and functionality. Primarily, car doors are made from steel, known for its strength and ability to absorb impact in the event of a collision. However, modern car manufacturing has seen the incorporation of other materials such as aluminum and composite materials. Aluminum is favored for its lightweight properties, contributing to overall vehicle efficiency and fuel economy. Composite materials, including carbon fiber-reinforced plastics, are utilized for their high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. Inside the car door, manufacturers integrate components like impact beams, sound insulation, and electronic wiring for power windows and locks. When the door is locked, sophisticated mechanisms ensure the vehicle remains secure. In case of accidentally locking the keys inside, modern cars are equipped with features like remote unlocking systems or smartphone apps that can unlock the doors, providing a convenient solution to this common problem. These elements work together to create a robust, safe, and user-friendly door, contributing to the overall performance and comfort of the vehicle.
1. Butterfly Doors
Butterfly car doors are hinged at the corner of the car frame. While these types of car doors are frequently confused with scissors car doors, they swing up and out through hinges on the A-pillar. Opening mechanisms in cars with butterfly doors allow users to enter and exit the vehicle.
Again, butterfly doors open wider, making them ideal alternatives for car door styles. Moreover, this car door design is common in closed racers and sports cars, including Saleen S7, BMW i8, and Enzo Ferrari. The main disadvantage of cars with butterfly doors is that they require more parking spaces to open wide.
2. Scissor Doors
Scissors car doors are also called Lamborghini doors since they are popular on high-end sports cars such as Lamborghini, McLaren, and Ferrari. These car door types open vertically like the blades of a pair of scissors. Invented in 1968 by Alfa Romeo Carabo, scissor doors are a perfect work of art. Cars with scissor doors are not only visually pleasing but also practical. In addition, these doors are popular in places with limited parking space because they open vertically rather than outward like conventional cars.
They can also be converted into traditional car doors since the hinges are in the same place as traditional cars. Nevertheless, cars with scissor doors are not common for 3 reasons:
- More costly than traditional doors
- Difficulty in escaping a car crash if the car rolls on its roof
- Scrape garage ceiling in parking spaces with insufficient height
3. Suicide Doors
Suicide car doors or coach doors have hinges for outward and backward openings. It means that these types of car door open horizontally by swinging backward while hinged on the back of the door frame. Luxury brands with suicide doors include Rolls-Royce, Opel/Vauxhall, Saturn, and Mazda.
Also known as suicide doors due to their defective design, these doors make it highly likely for a passenger to fall when the car is moving. This is why premium manufacturers emphasize improving passengers' safety and ride experience. Passengers can fall despite the easy entry and exit from the car, with poorly latched doors.
4. Canopy Doors
Jet fighter cockpits influence canopy doors designed to open upward, forward, or sideways to allow easy access. These types of car doors are also referred to as bubbly canopy, cockpit canopy, and connected canopy. The side windows, windshield, and roof are combined into glass units. Unlike regular car doors, the canopy has various hinges, allowing the door to slide forward, sideways, or vertically.
In addition to being visually pleasing, canopy doors have an enclosing window that provides clear visibility and aesthetic. Unfortunately, the greenhouse effect can affect canopy doors, making it difficult to enter or exit the car.
5. Dihedral Doors
Dihedral doors are a recent invention in the auto industry inspired by geometry. In addition, dihedral doors are similar to scissors doors; however, the only difference is that they open outwards while rotating 90 degrees at the hinge. Some popular car models that feature dihedral doors include CCX, Koenigsegg Agera, CCR, Regera, Koenigsegg CC8S, Agera RS, and Agera R.
These car door types provide easier access and exit. Nonetheless, they can be damaged if parked in spaces with high curbs. Repairs are also costly because dihedral doors are made from carbon fiber.
6. Gull Wing Doors
Gull or falcon wing doors are types of car doors hinged at the roof. These doors open upward, which reflect the seagull's wings. When opening gull-wing doors, the hinges stay fixed on the roof and spread like wings. Jean Bugatti designed these doors in 1939; in 1952, Mercedes Benz designed its 300 SL race car. The 1980s DMC DeLorean, 2010 Tesla Model X, and the 1970s Bricklin SV-1 also boost gull-wing doors. An outstanding feature of gull-wing doors is that they are not just for road cars but also aircraft, including the France four-seater Socata TB series.
7. Swan Doors
Swan doors are similar to conventional doors. However, the hinge in swan doors is higher for creating adequate space to enter and exit than traditional doors. These types of car doors are common in models such as GTA Spano, Aston Martin, and Jaguar C – X75. As the name suggests, these car doors reflect the sophistication of a swan. Besides an appealing design, swan doors are practical and save parking space irrespective of the height of the ceiling. While swan doors provide a stylish design to the car, it is uncomfortable for the driver, especially when closing the door.
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