Picasso once said: "Good artists borrow, great artists steal."

Well, that may have been the case in his time, but nowadays there are so many laws protecting intellectual property that you can’t even sneeze without the necessary permission. Heck, maybe Picasso would not have been a successful artist today if he was caught stealing ideas from others.

In the motoring world, the above statement would read a bit differently; especially when it comes to exotic cars. 

Automakers like Aston Martin, Lamborghini, and Pagani all make cars that are beyond sensual to look at. Their machinery drip of sex appeal and you just can't withhold that whistle as you walk up to them. Clearly then, their cars were penned by 'great artists'.

But here's the catch: these cars need to be powered. Hence, these several automakers reached out to potential partners in a bid to borrow engines. Some partners are within the automotive Group they find themselves in, while others, like Aston Martin, went outside their comfort zone in attaining a heartbeat for their cars.

Here's a list of cars that borrow engines from other automakers.

Do you know of any other exotic sports cars that borrow engines from other automakers? Email us.

2020 Lamborghini Huracan Evo. Image: Lamborghini

Aston Martin Vantage

One would probably have thought that never in a million years would Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG sign a partnership agreement. But it just so happened a few years ago when it was announced that Merc-AMG would supply engines to its British counterpart.

The agreement was for AMG to supply Aston Martin with its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine for duty in a range of Aston Martin vehicles, including the Vantage and beautiful DB11 (these two cars share an architecture, by the way). 

In the Vantage, the AMG engine produces 375kW and 685Nm of torque - on par with the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S on 375kW/700Nm. The Vantage V8 runs from 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds, and onto a top speed of 314km/h.

2020 Aston Martin Vantage. Image: Aston Martin Media

Lamborghini Huracán

For those of us who didn't know, Lamborghini is a member of the Volkswagen Group along with the likes of Audi, Porsche, and Bugatti – to mention a few. In the company's earlier years, they produced their own engines, but since falling under VW, several changes were made; especially when it comes to the engine.

Nowadays, the Huracan implements an Audi-sourced 5.2-litre V10 engine that is also in use by the R8. This naturally-aspirated motor produces 449kW/560Nm in the Audi, but for application in the Lambo, power outputs vary from 449 - 470kW.

The Huracan can run from 0-100km/h in 3.1sec, with top speed rated at 325km/h.

Image: Lamborghini Media

Pagani Huayra

Pagani is a small Italian supercar builder, but its product is nowhere near inferior to your mainstream names. To power their exquisite cars, in this case, the Huayra, Pagani made contact with Mercedes-Benz and asked for their 6.0-litre V12 engine. Yes, the very engine that also powers the Mercedes-Benz S600 (390kW/830Nm).

For use in the Huayra, power has been upped to 561kW and 1000Nm, but in the BC versions of the Huayra it reads as 590kW and 1050Nm, already available at 2000rpm, all the way to 5600rpm.

Sadly, on Mercedes-Benz's part, it killed off this V12 engine from its line-up, apart from use in the S600. In the latter, power outputs are de-tuned, given that in the AMG variants of this engine was available with 465kW and 1000Nm.

2020 Pagani Huayra Roadster BC. Image: Wheels24 / Charlen Raymond

Special mention:

Alfa Romeo QV models

Alfa Romeo and Ferrari fall under parent company Fiat, who, nowadays, fall under the Chrysler banner. Still, these two Italian brands still have the leeway (for now) to produce cars and engines as they see fit. Part of that allowance is a turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 engine that Alfa uses, but has been partly produced by cousin, Ferrari.

This engine does duty in two of Alfa Romeo's products: the Giulia Quadrafoglio and Stelvio Quadrafoglio - or QV, as they’re more commonly known.

The engine develops 375kW and 600Nm, and allows both cars to slingshot from 0-100km/h in under four seconds. In the Stelvio QV, power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, while in the Giulia QV all of it is sent to the rears.

Having recently driven the Stelvio QV, it's fair to say that Alfa's QV range does embody some part of Ferrari. And is some way, Picasso would have been proud.

2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Image: QuickPic