They often say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. But what happens when another company takes inspiration from your innovative designs to improve their own products? Could it be considered a more sincere form of admiration? Toyota certainly thinks so. Since the 1980s, automakers across the globe have been equipping their vehicles with Toyota engines. Given their durability and reliability, it’s no wonder so many brands turn to Toyota for power. Below are seven examples of non-Toyota vehicles that utilize Toyota engines. In 2001, British manufacturer Lotus introduced the second series of the Elise, incorporating some Japanese ingenuity. For the second series, they offered cars with engines from the Rover K-Series as well as Toyota's ZZ Series: By the time the third series began in 2011, Lotus had completely replaced the Rover K-Series with Toyota engines. Initially, the U.S.-based Elise models used the 2ZZ-GE engine, but these were phased out due to the lack of smart airbags required by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, newer Elises in Europe continue to use modified versions of the Toyota ZZ Series engines, compliant with Euro 5 emissions standards. Following the success of using Toyota engines in the Elise, Lotus expanded this approach to other premium models, including the Lotus Evora. This time, they opted for the more powerful GR Series engines, which are also found in certain Lexus models. Evora buyers can choose between two versions of the 3.5L GR engine, one producing 276 horsepower and the other 345 horsepower. Similar to the Elise, Lotus transitioned entirely to Toyota engines for the Exige starting with the second series in 2004. The first model in this series used the standard 2ZZ-GE engine. The following year, they added a supercharger to boost horsepower. The current series offers the Exige with a supercharged 1.8L Toyota I4 engine, delivering an impressive 355 horsepower. Dutch luxury carmaker Spyker Cars took a Japanese-inspired route in 2013 by installing a Lotus-derived engine in their concept car, the Spyker B6 Venator. Although the V6 engine, producing 375 horsepower, bore the Lotus name, it actually originated from Toyota’s ZZ Series. Unfortunately, this Toyota-powered sports car never made it to market due to Spyker's bankruptcy in 2014. However, there's still hope, as Spyker resumed operations in 2016 and unveiled their new model, the C8 Preliator. While the Preliator will feature a Koenigsegg V8 engine, there remains a possibility that Toyota engines could appear in future Spyker models. Jointly developed by General Motors and Toyota, the Pontiac Vibe came equipped with two Toyota ZZ Series engines: the 1.8L 1ZZ-FE and the 2ZZ-GE. In 2009, the Vibe underwent a redesign for its second generation, offering customers a choice between engines from the Toyota ZR Series and the Toyota AZ Series. However, just a year later in 2010, GM announced the discontinuation of the Pontiac brand, taking the Vibe and its reliable Toyota engine with it. Co-developed by Toyota and General Motors, the Geo/Chevrolet Prizm ran on a Toyota engine throughout its 12-year production run. Built on the foundation of Toyota's Sprinter, which itself is a variation of the Corolla, it made perfect sense to equip the Prizm with the Corolla’s engine. When the Prizm launched in 1990, it used engines from the now-discontinued Toyota A Series, such as the 4A-FE and 4A-GE. The 4A-FE carried over to the next generation, joined by the 7A-FE. In 1998, the Prizm received a fresh name—Chevrolet Prizm—and a new engine from the Toyota ZZ Series: the 1ZZ-FE I4. By the time the fifth generation of the Chevy Nova arrived, GM partnered with Toyota to revamp the vehicle. Like the Prizm, the fifth-generation Nova was based on the Sprinter and powered by Toyota’s A Series engines. Buyers could choose between two engines: the 1.6L 4A-C I4 and the 1.6L 4A-GE I4. Transmission options included a five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic. If the Nova seems strikingly similar to the Geo Prizm, it’s because the Prizm is essentially an updated version of the Nova. Chevy renamed it in 1989 to appeal to import car enthusiasts. Water Jacket,Screw Tips,Rear Seat,High Quality Screw Tip Set Zhejiang Guangming Plastics Machinery Co.,Ltd. , https://www.gmscrews.com 1. Lotus Elise: Series 2 and 3 (2001-Present)
A 2008 Lotus Elise. Image Copyright AJ Arduengo
2. Lotus Evora (2009-Present)
A 2009-2010 Lotus Evora. Image Copyright OSX 3. Lotus Exige: Series 2 and 3 (2004-Present)
A Lotus Exige. Image Copyright Tony Hisgett 4. 2013 Spyker B6 Venator
A 2013 Spyker B6 Venator. Image Copyright Clément Bucco-Lechat 5. Pontiac Vibe (2002-2010)
A Pontiac Vibe. Image Copyright IFCAR 6. Geo Prizm (1990-2002)
A 1990-1992 Geo Prizm. Image Copyright IFCAR 7. Chevy Nova: 5th Generation (1985-1988)
A 1986-1988 Chevy Nova sedan. Image Copyright IFCAR