1962 Ford Cortina vs. 1987 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1987 Lotus Esprit is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1962 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1962 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1987 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 124 more horse power than 1962 Ford Cortina. (48 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1987 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1962 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 326 kg more than 1962 Ford Cortina. 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, 1987 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 131 more torque (in Nm) than 1962 Ford Cortina. (90 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1987 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1962 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1962 Ford Cortina | 1987 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Cortina | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1962 | 1987 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1198 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 48 HP | 172 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 90 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2700 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81.1 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 58.1 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.7:1 | 10.9:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 778 kg | 1104 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 4340 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1140 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2460 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 36 L | 67 L |
