Over the years, motorcycle manufacturers and carmakers have come together and worked on some incredible projects. The relationships between some manufacturers also goes back further than you might think as their projects have been mutually beneficial.
Some of these collaborations have given us incredible alternative designs, others have pooled engineering resources to develop something different. For those of us who love both bikes and cars, there really isn’t anything better than seeing what your favorite manufacturers are able to accomplish when they team up.
From incredible designs, to genuinely innovative powertrain solutions, these are the best collaborations we have seen in the automotive world.
8 Ford & Harley-Davidson: Ford F-150
For most, this will be the first collaboration that comes to mind. It was definitely more of a design exercise that only appealed to a niche market.
It was an opportunity for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts to own America’s favorite pickup with a few touches from their favorite brand. In short, this made perfect sense. Unfortunately, Ford was not shy to charge for these “exclusive” F-150s.
7 Volvo & Yamaha: Volvo XC90
Arguably the best V8 engine ever made. That is a bit of a hot take because it is neither the most popular nor the most powerful V8, but it is one of the most efficient.
It was sumptuous and Yamaha just has a knack for designing engines that sound amazing. It is an engine which was specifically designed for Volvo’s top-selling SUV, but also made a cameo appearance in an exotic supercar (Noble M600 pictured) that displayed its full potential.
6 Ducati & Lamborghini: Ducati Streetfighter V4
After testing the waters with a Diavel (truly bizarre choice) a couple of years ago, Ducati and Lamborghini finally took their collaborative effort to the next level.
The Huracán STO themed Streetfighter is a great fit and has a ton of Lambo touches, it also has that fire-breathing 200 horsepower V4 that adds some serious punch to the aesthetic enhancements.
5 Ford & Yamaha: Ford Taurus SHO
In an effort to spice up their mild-mannered Taurus, Ford enlisted the help of Yamaha. Knowing full well what they could bring to the engineering table, this was a shrewd move on their part.
The SHO is the sleepiest of sleepers, and only those in the know really know just how fast these cars are.
4 Yamaha & Toyota: Hydrogen V8
Yamaha and Toyota have been working together on various projects for decades. They share several key attributes and have a deep-rooted respect for each other.
Their latest application doesn’t yet have a vehicle to go in, but it could find a home in any one of Toyota’s V8 powered vehicles. Theoretically, if run on clean green hydrogen, this could save, or at least prolong the life of the ICE.
3 Lexus & Yamaha: Lexus LFA
Technically another Toyota collab, this is by far their most powerful engine. Although the LFA flopped, it certainly wasn’t because of its engine.
The V10 Yamaha helped develop for this was smooth and powerful, developing 552 horsepower in a car that only weighed around 3,000 pounds. At the time, it ticked all the right boxes, with a 0-60 mph time of around 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 200 MPH, but its price was just astronomical (especially for a fancy Toyota).
2 Honda & Honda: Honda Motocompo
Honda did some crazy stuff back in the '80s, and this was one of their wacky creations. A car/bike combo, and yes, the bike fits into the car.
The car wasn’t all that crazy, an early Honda City (a rare and very cool turbo version pictured) that was effectively modified in such a way that the scooter was easier to access. The Motocompo scooter on the other hand is just incredible. Its design is pure '80s bliss and the fact that it exists at all is almost beyond comprehension. Nobody, and we mean nobody asked for this, but they made it anyway. Sales numbers were understandably low, but 50,000 of these is exactly 50,000 more than anyone expected.
1 Toyota & Yamaha: Toyota 2000GT
Any Toyota sports car owes everything to this. This is what started it all for Toyota, and they couldn’t have made it without the help of Yamaha. This is also the genesis for their intertwined history, as they transformed a fairly humble inline-6 out of a Toyota Crown into something worthy of the racetracks around the world.
The 2.0-liter DOHC lump was able to make 150 horsepower (this is in 1967) and propel the sports car to a top speed of 135 MPH. It has become one of the most collectible Japanese cars and examples have sold at auction for over $1 million.