1968 Lotus Elan vs. 1978 Toyota Corona
To start off, 1978 Toyota Corona is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,966 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Toyota Corona is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Lotus Elan (116 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 27 more horse power than 1978 Toyota Corona. (89 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1968 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1978 Toyota Corona. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Toyota Corona weights approximately 270 kg more than 1968 Lotus Elan.
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, 1968 Lotus Elan (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 1 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Toyota Corona. (145 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1968 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Toyota Corona. 1978 Toyota Corona has automatic transmission and 1968 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1968 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Toyota Corona will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1968 Lotus Elan | 1978 Toyota Corona | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elan | Corona |
| Year Released | 1968 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1966 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 116 HP | 89 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 145 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 88.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 80 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 850 kg | 1120 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4290 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2530 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 60 L |
