1970 Ford Cortina vs. 2009 Lotus Elise
To start off, 2009 Lotus Elise is newer by 39 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 2009 Lotus Elise is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 Lotus Elise (189 HP @ 7800 RPM) has 121 more horse power than 1970 Ford Cortina. (68 HP @ 5200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2009 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1970 Ford Cortina weights approximately 6 kg more than 2009 Lotus Elise.
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, 2009 Lotus Elise (180 Nm @ 6800 RPM) has 65 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Cortina. (115 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 2009 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Ford Cortina | 2009 Lotus Elise | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Cortina | Elise |
| Year Released | 1970 | 2009 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1599 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 68 HP | 189 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 7800 RPM |
| Torque | 115 Nm | 180 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 6800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 77.6 mm | 89.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 11.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 960 kg | 954 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 3790 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2310 mm |
