Most drivers see sports cars, supercars, and luxury vehicles as belonging in a different dimension than more practical, everyday cars. These extravagant machines, known for their high price tags, remarkable speed, and throaty engines, often seem worlds apart from their more mundane counterparts. But sometimes, these two worlds collide. Automakers collaborate, merge, and share components to streamline production and keep costs down, leading to some surprising instances of parts sharing. Here are ten sports cars and luxury vehicles with components that you might recognize from more affordable cars.
1. Alfa Romeo 4C (2014-2020) – Door Mirrors: Fiat 500 (2007-2024)
First up is the Alfa Romeo 4C, a mid-engined, eye-catching sports car introduced in concept form at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The 4C was available from 2014 to 2020, initially as a coupe and later as a spider. This sleek machine borrows materials and technology from another Alfa Romeo model, the 8C Competizione. However, the 4C’s door mirrors come from a more humble source: the Fiat 500, a compact city car.
2. Lamborghini Murciélago (2002-2010) – Front Side Indicators: Mk1 Ford Focus
Then there’s the Lamborghini Murciélago, a supercar familiar to many car enthusiasts. The Murciélago, which succeeded the Diablo and later gave way to the Aventador, was manufactured from 2002 to 2010. Sporting a remarkable, angular profile with scissor doors and quintessential loud Lamborghini colors, the Murciélago is hard to miss. But an understated component on the Murciélago comes from a much more ordinary vehicle: the front side indicator lights on the European model were sourced from the Ford Focus. Lamborghini’s replacement part is about $250, while a Ford equivalent is around $20.
3. Noble M12 (2000-2008) – Taillights: Mk1 Ford Mondeo
Produced by a small British automaker that isn’t very prevalent in the U.S., the Noble M12 was the second model Noble ever created. While this British sports car may seem to have nothing in common with a mass-produced Korean mid-size sedan, the M12’s taillights were sourced from the pre-facelift first-generation Ford Mondeo.
4. Noble M400 (2006-2007) – Taillights: Hyundai Sonata (fourth-gen, post-facelift)
The Noble M400, which arrived in 2004, is another creation from Noble. This mid-engined sports car, designed in the UK and manufactured in South Africa, builds upon the M12’s design with several performance and safety improvements. Like the M12, the M400 also borrows its taillights from the fourth-generation Hyundai Sonata, specifically the facelifted version.
5. MG XPower SV (2003-2005) – Taillights: Fiat Coupe
This peculiar sports car is not one of MG’s most well-known models, with a production run challenged from the start. Only 82 units were produced before MG Rover went into administration. The XPower SV, a mashup of various models, had its taillights borrowed from the Fiat Coupe.
6. Lamborghini Diablo (1999-2001) – Headlights: Nissan 300ZX
Before the Murciélago, there was its predecessor: the Diablo. This rear-engined supercar, produced between 1990 and 2001, borrowed a critical component from another car. After receiving a facelift in 1999, the Diablo’s pop-up headlights were replaced with fixed headlights borrowed from a Nissan 300ZX.
7. Lotus Esprit (1976-2004) – Taillights: Rover SD1 / Toyota Corolla Levin AE86
One the Lotus’ most iconic models, the Esprit was in production from 1976 to 2004. The second-generation (S2) Esprit took its taillights from the Rover SD1. A decade later Lotus borrowed the rectangular taillights from the Toyota Corolla Levin AE86.
8. Aston Martin DB7 (1994-2004) – Taillights: Mazda 323F
Next up is the Aston Martin DB7, a luxury grand tourer produced between 1994 and 2004. The DB7 borrowed its taillights from the Mazda 323F. The exterior door handles, front indicator lenses, and other parts of the DB7 were sourced from Mazda models.
9. Lotus Evora (2009-2021) – Side mirrors: Proton Saga
The Lotus Evora, a V6-powered sports car produced from 2009 to 2021. The relevant version for this list is the Evora 400 (2015-2018). The Evora 400 borrowed its side mirrors from an unusual source: the Proton Saga, a Malaysian-made sedan.
10. Maserati Levante (2017-2024) – Start button: Dodge Ram truck family
The Maserati Levante, a luxurious crossover, prides itself on embodying Italian style. However, the “Start” button and window switches were sourced from the Ram truck family.
These examples highlight the surprising ways automakers sometimes share components, leveraging the resources of other companies to balance innovation, cost, and design.
