1969 Lotus Elan vs. 2009 Smart ForTwo
To start off, 2009 Smart ForTwo is newer by 40 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 (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 48 more horse power than 2009 Smart ForTwo. (70 HP @ 5800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 2009 Smart ForTwo.
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 54 more torque (in Nm) than 2009 Smart ForTwo. (92 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2009 Smart ForTwo.
Compare all specifications:
1969 Lotus Elan | 2009 Smart ForTwo | |
Make | Lotus | Smart |
Model | Elan | ForTwo |
Year Released | 1969 | 2009 |
Body Type | Convertible | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Rear |
Engine Size | 1558 cc | 999 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 3 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 118 HP | 70 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
Torque | 146 Nm | 92 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 72 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 81.8 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 11.5:1 |
Top Speed | 190 km/hour | 145 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 3 doors |
Vehicle Length | 4300 mm | 2700 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1550 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1570 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 1870 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 59 L | 33 L |