What Tesla model introduced falcon-wing doors?

The Tesla Model X introduced Tesla’s distinctive falcon-wing doors.

The all-electric SUV was unveiled as a prototype in 2012, and first deliveries began in September 2015. Its rear passenger doors use a double-hinged mechanism that lifts upward while keeping the outer edge relatively close to the vehicle. Tesla called them falcon-wing doors because their movement resembles a bird spreading its wings.

The design was intended to make access easier in tight parking spaces and to provide a wide opening for the second-row seats. Sensors and software monitor nearby obstacles so the doors can adjust their movement. The mechanism also contributed to production delays and early reliability complaints, including doors that sometimes paused, failed to latch or reacted poorly to alignment problems.

The Model X is closely related to the Tesla Model S, sharing much of its underlying technology, but the doors distinguish it from Tesla’s other passenger cars. The Model S and Model 3 use conventional doors, while the Model Y uses a more traditional crossover design. Falcon-wing doors are modified gull-wing doors, not ordinary sliding or scissor doors.