1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs. 1981 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1981 Lotus Esprit is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Lotus Esprit (158 HP) has 77 more horse power than 1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia. (81 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 72 kg more than 1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia. 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, 1981 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 117 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia. (104 Nm @ 4900 RPM). This means 1981 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia | 1981 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Alfa Romeo | Lotus |
| Model | Giulia | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1290 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 81 HP | 158 HP |
| Torque | 104 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4900 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1048 kg | 1120 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4170 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2460 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 46 L | 67 L |
