1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1970 Volkswagen K 70
To start off, 1970 Volkswagen K 70 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,605 cc (4 cylinders), 1970 Volkswagen K 70 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 27 more horse power than 1970 Volkswagen K 70. (91 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1970 Volkswagen K 70. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1970 Volkswagen K 70 weights approximately 161 kg more than 1969 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, 1969 Lotus Elan (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 12 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Volkswagen K 70. (134 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Volkswagen K 70.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 1970 Volkswagen K 70 | |
| Make | Lotus | Volkswagen |
| Model | Elan | K 70 |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1605 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 91 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 134 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 82 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 76 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Top Speed | 190 km/hour | 158 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 889 kg | 1050 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4300 mm | 4430 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1690 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2700 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 59 L | 52 L |
