1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1978 Reliant Kitten
To start off, 1978 Reliant Kitten is newer by 9 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 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1969 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (108 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 68 more horse power than 1978 Reliant Kitten. (40 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1978 Reliant Kitten. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1969 Lotus Elan weights approximately 165 kg more than 1978 Reliant Kitten. 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, 1969 Lotus Elan (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 84 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Reliant Kitten. (63 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Reliant Kitten.
Compare all specifications:
1969 Lotus Elan | 1978 Reliant Kitten | |
Make | Lotus | Reliant |
Model | Elan | Kitten |
Year Released | 1969 | 1978 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1558 cc | 846 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 108 HP | 40 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Torque | 147 Nm | 63 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 62.5 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 69.1 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 9.5:1 |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 700 kg | 535 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3690 mm | 3330 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1430 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1170 mm | 1400 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2150 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 27 L |