1971 Lotus Elan vs. 1972 Mitsubishi Minica
To start off, 1972 Mitsubishi Minica is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1971 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Lotus Elan (126 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 99 more horse power than 1972 Mitsubishi Minica. (27 HP @ 8000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1972 Mitsubishi Minica. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Lotus Elan weights approximately 360 kg more than 1972 Mitsubishi Minica. 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, 1971 Lotus Elan (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM) has 125 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Mitsubishi Minica. (28 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1971 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Mitsubishi Minica.
Compare all specifications:
1971 Lotus Elan | 1972 Mitsubishi Minica | |
Make | Lotus | Mitsubishi |
Model | Elan | Minica |
Year Released | 1971 | 1972 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1558 cc | 359 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 2 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 126 HP | 27 HP |
Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 8000 RPM |
Torque | 153 Nm | 28 Nm |
Torque RPM | 5500 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Vehicle Weight | 870 kg | 510 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 3000 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1300 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1320 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2010 mm |