What is the difference between butterfly doors and scissor doors?
2 Answers
Butterfly doors and scissor doors differ as follows: Butterfly doors have their hinges mounted on the A-pillar or the fender near the A-pillar. The doors open forward and upward through the hinges, and the diagonally raised doors resemble the wings of a butterfly, hence the name butterfly doors. Scissor doors have their hinges on the front fender and are named for their opening shape, which resembles scissors. Scissor doors move straight up and down with only one pivot point. The advantages of scissor doors and butterfly doors are as follows: Advantages of scissor doors: 1. They can be opened in narrow areas, avoiding damage to pedestrians on the road or the doors themselves that might occur with conventional doors. 2. They allow for a more flamboyant expression of personal style. Advantages of butterfly doors: They have a larger opening, making it more convenient for passengers to get in and out of the vehicle.
I just worked on a few supercars with these two types of doors. The butterfly doors open upward and outward like wings, with hinges mounted on the roof or above the A-pillar. When opened, the doors fully extend, providing ample entry and exit space, but you need to ensure the ceiling is high enough to avoid collisions. Scissor doors also open upward but rise almost vertically with only a slight outward angle, and their hinges are located on the A-pillar closer to the windshield, saving more space when opening or closing. In terms of usability, butterfly doors are more flamboyant and visually striking, though they can be troublesome in windy or rainy conditions. Maintenance-wise, both types have expensive hinges, but butterfly doors wear out faster due to their unique angle, with repairs costing at least several thousand dollars each time.
