Which cars have swan doors?

Swan doors—front-hinged doors that open outward and slightly upward for curb clearance—are most closely associated with Aston Martin. Notable examples include the DB9, DBS (and DBS Superleggera/770 Ultimate), DB11, DB12, Vantage (multiple generations), Vanquish, Virage, Rapide, One-77, Lagonda Taraf, and the one-off Victor. Outside of Aston Martin, true swan doors are extremely rare, and many cars people think have them actually use different door types (butterfly, scissor, gullwing, or dihedral). This article explains what qualifies as a swan door, lists production cars that feature them, and clarifies common confusions.

What are “swan doors” and how are they different?

Swan doors are conventional front-hinged doors engineered to rise a few degrees on opening, clearing tall curbs and steep driveways while reducing the risk of scuffing the lower door edge. They do not pivot upward around the A-pillar like butterfly doors, rotate vertically like scissor doors, hinge from the roof like gullwings, or follow a complex arc like Koenigsegg’s dihedral doors. The “swan” name refers to the graceful, slightly upturned sweep of the door as it opens.

Notable production cars with swan doors

The models below are widely recognized for using true swan doors—an Aston Martin hallmark for roughly two decades—where the door opens outward with a deliberate upward cant designed for clearance and elegance. Model years reflect primary production runs and may vary slightly by market.

• Aston Martin DB9 (2004–2016), Coupe and Volante
• Aston Martin DBS (2007–2012); DBS Superleggera (2018–2023); DBS 770 Ultimate (2023)
• Aston Martin DB11 (2016–2023)
• Aston Martin DB12 (2023–present)
• Aston Martin Vantage:
  – V8 Vantage (2005–2017) and V12 Vantage (2009–2013; 2022 limited series)
  – Vantage (2018–2023) and updated Vantage (2024–present)
• Aston Martin Vanquish (2001–2007; 2012–2018), including Vanquish S
• Aston Martin Virage (2011–2012)
• Aston Martin Rapide/Rapide S (2010–2020) – four swan doors
• Aston Martin One-77 (2009–2012)
• Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf (2015–2017)
• Aston Martin Victor (2020, one-off)

Taken together, these cars show that swan doors are effectively an Aston Martin signature across GTs, super GTs, sedans, and specials. While trim updates and facelifts occurred over time, the fundamental door action remained a brand-defining feature.

Rare or ambiguous cases: what doesn’t count

Because the term “swan door” is sometimes used loosely, it helps to separate lookalikes from the real thing. The following notes clarify typical misclassifications so you can identify true swan doors with confidence.

• Butterfly doors: swing outward and up on the A-pillar (e.g., many McLarens, Ferrari Enzo, Rimac Nevera) – not swan doors.
• Scissor doors: rotate vertically at or near the A-pillar (e.g., Lamborghini Aventador) – not swan doors.
• Gullwing doors: hinge at the roof (e.g., Mercedes 300 SL, SLS AMG) – not swan doors.
• Dihedral synchro-helix doors: unique rotating-lift action (Koenigsegg) – not swan doors.
• Suicide (rear-hinged) doors: hinge at the rear edge (e.g., Rolls-Royce, certain Lincoln Continentals) – not swan doors.
• Conventional doors with minimal rise: some cars exhibit slight upward motion due to hinge geometry, but unless designed and marketed for substantial curb clearance, they aren’t generally considered “swan doors.”

In short, unless the door is a front-hinged design that deliberately lifts as it opens—and is recognized by the maker for that—it is unlikely to be a true swan door.

Why manufacturers use swan doors

Automakers adopt swan doors primarily for practicality and theater. The slight upward arc aids curb and ramp clearance, helping protect sculpted rocker panels and door edges. At the same time, the motion enhances perceived luxury and occasion—particularly on low, wide GTs—without sacrificing everyday usability or requiring roof cutouts or complex mechanisms.

How to tell if a car has swan doors

Look at the door’s path as it opens. If it is front-hinged and clearly rises on a gentle upward angle—typically several degrees—rather than purely swinging out, you’re likely looking at a swan door. On Aston Martins, the effect is obvious in tight urban parking next to high curbs, where the lower edge clears obstacles more gracefully than a standard door.

Bottom line

As of 2025, swan doors remain an Aston Martin hallmark, spanning the DB9-to-DB12 lineage, Vantage families, Vanquish, DBS variants, Rapide, Virage, One-77, Lagonda Taraf, and the Victor. Beyond Aston Martin, true swan doors are exceedingly uncommon; most visually dramatic alternatives are butterfly, scissor, gullwing, or dihedral designs rather than swan doors.

Summary

Swan doors are outward-and-upward front-hinged doors designed for curb clearance and style. They are found most extensively on Aston Martin models—including DB9, DB11, DB12, DBS (and Superleggera/770), Vantage generations, Vanquish, Rapide, Virage, One-77, Lagonda Taraf, and the Victor—while remaining rare elsewhere. Many cars mistaken for having swan doors actually use different mechanisms such as butterfly, scissor, gullwing, or dihedral doors.

What car has disappearing doors?

This 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII has disappearing doors that slide down for easy entry. And it’s not the only model designed with such interesting door concept.

What cars have swan doors?

The most well known usage of swan doors is by Aston Martin, and their sister company Lagonda, who have used the design on many of their models, starting with the DB9 in 2004. A number of cars from other manufacturers have also used the design, such as the Hennessey Venom GT and Vencer Sarthe.

Which car has butterfly doors?

Butterfly doors have been an adopted design of modern prototypes and sports cars such as the McLaren F1, Toyota GT-One, Saleen S7, Ferrari Enzo (and its track day version, the FXX), Bentley Speed 8, Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, McLaren Senna, Maserati MC20, and Bugatti Tourbillon.

What is the difference between a swan door and a conventional door?

Although they resemble conventional car doors, swan doors have a striking mechanism and open wider than any other door style. These doors are hinged sideways but rise slightly as they open horizontally. High-performance cars feature this design, saving parking space despite ceiling height limitations.