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Top 10 Weirdest Brand Collaborations in Automotive History

Cameron Eittreim June 3, 2025

In the fiercely competitive automotive world, brands often seek unconventional ways to grab attention and generate buzz.
One increasingly popular strategy has been to team up with companies from entirely unrelated industries, resulting in some truly bizarre collaborations.
From luxury fashion houses partnering with rugged SUVs to food brands merging with compact cars, these unexpected alliances have sparked curiosity, confusion, and plenty of conversation.
Whether these partnerships were marketing genius or strange misfires, they undeniably captured consumer attention and became memorable moments in automotive history.
Join us as we explore ten of the weirdest automotive brand collaborations ever witnessed.

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1. Fiat 500 Gucci Edition

2019 Fiat 500x2 1 — A sleek Fiat 500 Gucci edition showcasing luxury fashion and iconic Italian style through an exclusive designer collaboration. | Image source: Photo by Augusto Carneiro Junior on Pexels

When Italian automaker Fiat teamed up with luxury fashion powerhouse Gucci, the result was an unexpected blend of automotive engineering and high-end fashion aesthetics.
Launched in 2011 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification, the Fiat 500 Gucci Edition featured iconic Gucci design elements, such as the signature green-red-green stripe running along its body and Gucci’s interlocking “GG” emblems adorning the wheels and seats.
This unusual collaboration transformed a modest city car into a chic fashion statement, redefining consumer perceptions and attracting style-conscious buyers who desired exclusivity and elegance—even if fashionability wasn’t typically associated with compact vehicles.

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2. Hyundai Kona Iron Man Edition

In an unexpected move, Hyundai teamed up with Marvel Studios to create the Kona Iron Man Edition, bringing Tony Stark’s superhero charisma to the compact SUV market.
Launched in 2019, the special edition featured a matte gray and “Iron Man Red” exterior, unique Iron Man badges, and custom-designed alloy wheels inspired by Stark’s iconic suit.
The superhero theme continued inside, with Stark Industries graphics, branded seats, and an exclusive heads-up display animation.
Hyundai cleverly leveraged Marvel’s massive fanbase and timed the vehicle’s release with the cinematic debut of “Avengers: Endgame,” positioning the Kona Iron Man Edition as the ultimate collectible for comic enthusiasts and car lovers alike.

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3. Nissan Rogue One Star Wars Edition

In 2016, Nissan embraced the Force with a limited-edition Rogue SUV inspired by the blockbuster film, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
This special edition vehicle featured Galactic Empire and Rebel Alliance insignia prominently displayed on its exterior, along with exclusive blacked-out wheels and illuminated Star Wars-branded door sills.
Inside, owners found details like Rebel Alliance logos stitched into the seats and Star Wars-themed floor mats.
The collaboration attracted attention from both automotive enthusiasts and devoted Star Wars fans, showcasing Nissan’s creative marketing approach and generating significant buzz around the film’s release—proving that even cars can venture into a galaxy far, far away.

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4. Peugeot 205 Lacoste

Back in the mid-1980s, French automaker Peugeot joined forces with renowned sportswear brand Lacoste to create the Peugeot 205 Lacoste, blending automotive design with sporty elegance.
This quirky collaboration resulted in a limited-run hatchback featuring Lacoste’s signature crocodile badge subtly placed on the car’s body panels, along with special white paintwork paired with green accents reminiscent of tennis courts.
The interior embraced sportswear aesthetics through crisp upholstery patterns and matching green-and-white detailing.
Though unconventional, the partnership successfully elevated Peugeot’s youthful, sporty image, while Lacoste benefited from increased exposure beyond fashion circles, appealing to consumers who valued both style and practicality.

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5. AMC Gremlin Levi’s Edition

In one of the quirkiest automotive collaborations of the 1970s, American Motors Corporation (AMC) teamed up with iconic jeans brand Levi’s to produce the AMC Gremlin Levi’s Edition.
Released in 1973, this unique hatchback featured genuine denim upholstery complete with Levi’s signature copper rivets, contrast stitching, and even authentic Levi’s pocket tabs sewn onto the seats.
This bold fashion-inspired interior turned heads, creating an intriguing blend of casual denim style and automotive practicality.
While consumer reactions varied from amusement to genuine admiration, the Gremlin Levi’s Edition remains a memorable symbol of an era when automotive design embraced playful experimentation.

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6. Lamborghini Diablo Alpine Edition

In 1999, Lamborghini partnered with premium audio manufacturer Alpine to produce a limited-run Diablo unlike any other—the Lamborghini Diablo Alpine Edition.
This unexpected collaboration integrated state-of-the-art audio technology directly into the Italian supercar, equipping it with a custom high-powered Alpine sound system, complete with specialized amplifiers, subwoofers, and speakers strategically placed throughout the cabin.
Aside from acoustic upgrades, exclusive exterior badging and subtle interior detailing marked this edition as unique.
By combining Alpine’s audio expertise with Lamborghini’s automotive prestige, the partnership appealed to affluent audiophiles and supercar enthusiasts alike, making the Diablo Alpine Edition a standout example of niche automotive luxury.

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7. Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition

In a surprising crossover of automotive and motorcycle cultures, Ford collaborated with legendary motorcycle brand Harley-Davidson to produce the Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition.
First launched in 2000, this special edition pickup combined rugged truck capability with motorcycle-inspired aesthetics, featuring Harley’s iconic badges, exclusive chrome accents, and distinctive two-tone paint schemes reminiscent of classic Harley bikes.
The interior echoed motorcycle themes with leather seats, chrome gauges, and branded detailing throughout.
This unique partnership resonated with both truck fans and motorcycle enthusiasts, effectively bridging two passionate communities while reinforcing both brands’ reputation for American craftsmanship and distinctive styling.

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8. Volkswagen Golf GTI Adidas Edition

In 2010, Volkswagen teamed up with sportswear giant Adidas, merging automotive performance with athletic style to create the Golf GTI Adidas Edition.
This unique collaboration featured distinctive sporty elements such as Adidas’ iconic triple-stripe motif running along the car’s interior upholstery and special Adidas-branded badges adorning the exterior.
The sports-inspired seats incorporated fabric reminiscent of athletic gear, emphasizing comfort and agility.
Volkswagen strategically targeted younger, active drivers who valued athletic aesthetics as much as driving performance.
The result was a stylish and dynamic limited-edition Golf GTI that resonated strongly with sporty-minded consumers looking to showcase their athletic lifestyle even behind the wheel.

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9. Citroën C3 Elle Edition

Citroën’s collaboration with renowned fashion magazine Elle led to the creation of the stylish Citroën C3 Elle Edition, a vehicle explicitly designed to appeal to fashion-conscious urban drivers.
Launched in 2018, this limited-edition hatchback featured sophisticated exterior color combinations, subtle “Elle” branding, and elegant interior accents inspired by contemporary fashion trends.
Touches like cherry-pink detailing, premium upholstery textures, and minimalist design cues resonated with a predominantly female demographic seeking individuality and chic appeal in their daily commute.
By aligning automotive innovation with fashion-forward sensibilities, Citroën successfully attracted attention from a market segment often overlooked by traditional automotive campaigns.

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10. Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty Edition

In a surprising crossover between the automotive and gaming worlds, Jeep partnered with the blockbuster video game franchise Call of Duty, resulting in the Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty Edition.
Launched alongside Call of Duty: Black Ops in 2010, this rugged special-edition SUV featured military-inspired design elements like tactical bumpers, distinctive black alloy wheels, and unique branding decals reminiscent of the game’s gritty aesthetics.
Jeep’s promotional strategy focused squarely on gamers and adventure enthusiasts, highlighting the Wrangler’s off-road capabilities as akin to virtual battlefield prowess.
This bold collaboration effectively captured the imagination of fans, reinforcing Jeep’s adventurous image through immersive gaming culture.

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Conclusion

These unconventional automotive collaborations highlight how creativity in branding and marketing can disrupt industry norms and generate lasting consumer interest.
By partnering with fashion icons, entertainment franchises, and even food and lifestyle brands, car manufacturers have successfully attracted diverse audiences and sparked conversations across various markets.
Though some partnerships may seem bizarre, each has uniquely blended automotive innovation with niche consumer passions, demonstrating the powerful appeal of unexpected alliances.
As consumer tastes continue to evolve, we can expect even more creative and surprising automotive collaborations in the future.
After all, in the world of branding, sometimes the weirdest pairings leave the most lasting impressions.

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