1966 Lotus Elan vs. 1966 Riley Kestrel
To start off, both 1966 Lotus Elan and 1966 Riley Kestrel were released in the same year (1966). Therefore the support and the availability on parts for both vehicles should be relatively similar. At 1,557 cc (4 cylinders), 1966 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Lotus Elan (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 62 more horse power than 1966 Riley Kestrel. (53 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1966 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1966 Riley Kestrel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Riley Kestrel weights approximately 189 kg more than 1966 Lotus Elan.
Because 1966 Lotus Elan is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1966 Lotus Elan. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1966 Riley Kestrel, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1966 Lotus Elan (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 64 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Riley Kestrel. (83 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1966 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Riley Kestrel.
Compare all specifications:
1966 Lotus Elan | 1966 Riley Kestrel | |
Make | Lotus | Riley |
Model | Elan | Kestrel |
Year Released | 1966 | 1966 |
Engine Size | 1557 cc | 1098 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 115 HP | 53 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Torque | 147 Nm | 83 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 8.3:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Front |
Vehicle Weight | 696 kg | 885 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 3730 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1540 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1350 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2380 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 25 L |