8 Popular Cars With Butterfly Doors (With Pictures)

The Butterfly door is a non-standard door design commonly found on exotic models. It opens outward and upward like wings of a butterfly, which explains the name.

Having butterfly doors makes your car instantly the center of attraction.

Are you interested in buying a Butterfly-door car? Read on to find out the most popular models with butterfly doors!

1. Ferrari LaFerrari

“La Ferrari” means “the Ferrari” in English, suggesting that this model is the definition of a Ferrari car.

With its ridiculous pricing, extreme speed, and sensual Italian design, the LaFerrari truly exemplifies the Ferrari brand.

The LaFerrari is a hybrid-powered Ferrari supercar produced in both coupe and roadster body styles. Production of the LaFerrari occurred between 2013 and 2018, with only 710 units made.

This places it among the rarest models in an automaker’s lineup already famed for making super-rare cars.

Given the limited production of the LaFerrari, it’s hardly surprising that the units were costly.

The LaFerrari coupe cost a cool $1.4 million initially, although prices later rose as demand increased. On the other hand, the LaFerrari Aperta (Roadster) cost a whopping $2.2 million.

Both LaFerrari models boast an eye-catching design, which is pretty commonplace with every Ferrari model. Sharp curves reminiscent of old Italian automotive design are plentiful on both models.

They also have butterfly doors, which provide a breathtaking sight when opened.

The LaFerrari is more than butterfly doors and exquisite styling, though; it has enough oomph beneath the hood to satisfy the most extreme thrill-seekers.

The car can produce up to 950 horsepower and reaches 60mph under three seconds, thanks to a naturally aspirated V12 engine.

2. McLaren F1

McLaren has a long history of using butterfly doors, and it only fits that one of its greatest cars, the F1, uses them.

Released in 1992, the McLaren F1 is regarded as one of the greatest sports cars ever built.

The F1 was a limited-edition model, with only 106 examples produced between 1992 and 1998.

The rarity of McLaren F1s has made them some of the most demanded—and expensive—sports cars in the world. In 2019, a hyper-rare McLaren F1 model sold for a whopping $19.8 million!

Beyond all that, the F1’s real claim to fame is its phenomenal speed. For a supercar produced without a forced induction engine, the F1 was wicked fast.

An F1 XP5 prototype set a Guinness World Record for the fastest production car after it topped 240mph in 1998. This beat the Jaguar XJ220’s 217mph record set in 1992.

Many years later, the F1 remains one of the fastest production cars globally, competing with even modern hyper cars like the Ferrari Enzo and Aston Martin One-77.

3. McLaren P1

Another popular McLaren model with butterfly doors, the P1, was a limited-edition supercar made between 2013 and 2015.

McLaren made only 375 examples of the P1, placing the model among other hyper-rare McLaren nameplates produced over the years.

The McLaren P1 used hybrid power like another butterfly-door car and close rival, the Ferrari LaFerrari. However, the P1 was considered faster than the LaFerrari, finishing 0.34 seconds earlier in a race with the latter.

The McLaren P1 produces around 903 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to satisfy everyone’s need for speed.

Per McLaren’s submission, the P1 can reach 62mph in 2.8 seconds and 124mph in 6.8 seconds.

Much of the P1’s extreme performance derives from its use of Formula One-inspired features.

For instance, the model has an Instant Power Assist System that spikes acceleration through the electric motor.

There’s also a Drag Reduction System that controls the rear wing and increases straight-line speed.

4. BMW i8

The BMW i8 is a plug-in hybrid sports car produced between 2014 and 2020.

Assembled in Leipzig, Germany, the i8 sold over 20,000 units before it ended production, making it the highest-selling plug-in hybrid sports car in the world.

That said, there have also been reports of problems with the BMW i8 models.

The i8 was first unveiled as the Vision EfficientDynamics concept vehicle in 2009. Other i8 concept cars followed in 2011, 2013, and 2013, building hopes of a street-legal model.

BMW approved the production of the i8 and released a road-going variant in 2013 at the International Motor Show in Germany.

The BMW featured attractive design elements, including laser headlights, butterfly doors, and a head-up display.

As a hybrid model, BMW has exceptional fuel efficiency. The Roadster model, launched in 2017, has a combined fuel economy of 69 mpg-e, according to EPA estimates.

On the other hand, the coupe has a combined 76 mpg-e rating from the EPA.

During its production run, the BMW i8 contributed significantly to the advancement of hybrid sports cars.

It received awards for its alternative-fuel technology, including a World Green Car award and a Luxury Green Car of the Year award, both in 2015.

5. Ferrari Enzo Ferrari

Along with the LaFerrari, the Enzo is one of the greatest models ever to come out of Ferrari’s Maranello factory. It was a commemorative model designed in honor of Ferrari’s founder, Enzo Ferrari.

It features a powerful V12 engine that produces 650 horsepower, making it one of the fastest cars in the Ferrari family.

Further aiding the Enzo Ferrari’s performance is its use of F1-derived racing technologies.

These include an automatic-shift manual transmission, carbon-fiber body, and C/SiC ceramic composite brakes.

The Enzo Ferrari had the famed butterfly doors used on the LaFerrari as well. However, some have criticized the Enzo Ferrari’s design, calling it “flashy” and “overstated”.

Critics noted issues with the model’s design features, including the bulbous windshield, V-shaped hood, and scooped-out doors.

As common with other Ferraris, the Enzo Ferrari saw limited production, with only 400 models made between 2002 and 2004.

6. Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

McLaren’s love affair with butterfly-style doors has been on for ages. Those doors even made an appearance in the SLR grand tourer developed in conjunction with BMW.

Produced while BMW partly owned McLaren, the SLR model benefited from both automakers’ combined creative forces.

It blended elements of BMW-esque renowned luxury and McLaren’s performance features to create an incredible supercar.

The SLR had butterfly doors, sensual curves, and a carbon monocoque chassis.

Beneath the hood, the SLR featured a supercharged V8 engine that produced 617 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque.

Based on test drives results, we believe the SLR could reach 60mph in under four seconds.

Today, the SLR models remain some of the most affordable supercars on the market.

Over 2000 models were produced, meaning the SLR is not a rare, super-expensive exotic car like the Enzo Ferrari.

Make sure to also read our article about cars with differential locks.

7. Toyota Sera

Are you interested in buying a car with butterfly doors but don’t have cash for an exotic supercar? Then the Toyota Sera is what you need.

Believe it or not, this small coupe has dihedral doors similar to exotic models like the Enzo Ferrari. The only difference is that the Sera is much older and costs thousands of dollars less.

Toyota launched the Sera in 1989, producing the model for sale only in the local Japanese market.

For five years, Toyota sold around 15,000 Sera models, an impressive feat, given that it only sold locally.

The Sera offered decent performance and sported an inline-four engine that made 104 horsepower and 97 pound-feet of torque. It also provided 4-speed automatic and 5-speed manual transmission and vented brakes.

The Sera had more going for it in terms of design, however. It had a smooth, glassy body, accentuated by double butterfly doors.

Hinged on the car’s A-pillars, the butterfly doors tilted up and out just like the McLaren F1. McLaren designer Gordon Murray credited the Toyota Sera inspiring the butterfly doors on the McLaren F1.

Except you’re a multimillionaire, the Toyota Sera represents your best chances of owning a butterfly-door model.

There are imported Sera models in the US that can be had for a few grand. Besides, with Toyota’s penchant for reliability, you can rest easy knowing this won’t be a classic lemon car.

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8. Ford GT

Finally, an American sports car with butterfly doors! Along with the Chevrolet Corvette, the Ford GT has served as proof of America’s race car lineage.

And it only makes sense that the iconic model uses the iconic butterfly-style door design.

The first-generation GT models produced between 2004 to 2006 used regular sports car doors.

Butterfly doors didn’t appear on the GT until the second generation, which started in 2017.

You might also be interested in reading our article about the Ford GT in snow and winter driving.

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