1971 Ford Cortina vs. 1996 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1996 Lotus Esprit is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1996 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Lotus Esprit (285 HP) has 229 more horse power than 1971 Ford Cortina. (56 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1996 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1971 Ford Cortina.
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, 1996 Lotus Esprit (510 Nm) has 419 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm). This means 1996 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford Cortina | 1996 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Cortina | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1996 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 285 HP |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 510 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 4430 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1840 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1150 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2420 mm |
