1950 Austin A 40 vs. 1989 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1989 Lotus Esprit is newer by 39 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1950 Austin A 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1950 Austin A 40 would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1989 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Lotus Esprit (216 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 167 more horse power than 1950 Austin A 40. (49 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1950 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 182 kg more than 1950 Austin A 40. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1989 Lotus Esprit (298 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 214 more torque (in Nm) than 1950 Austin A 40. (84 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1989 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1950 Austin A 40.
Compare all specifications:
| 1950 Austin A 40 | 1989 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Austin | Lotus |
| Model | A 40 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1950 | 1989 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1200 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 49 HP | 216 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 84 Nm | 298 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 65.5 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 89 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.2:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Top Speed | 127 km/hour | 245 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 966 kg | 1148 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4060 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2440 mm |
