1971 Lotus Seven vs. 1980 Reliant Kitten
To start off, 1980 Reliant Kitten is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Lotus Seven. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Lotus Seven would be higher. At 1,340 cc (4 cylinders), 1971 Lotus Seven is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Lotus Seven (85 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 46 more horse power than 1980 Reliant Kitten. (39 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Lotus Seven should accelerate faster than 1980 Reliant Kitten. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Lotus Seven weights approximately 59 kg more than 1980 Reliant Kitten. 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 Seven (92 Nm) has 29 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Reliant Kitten. (63 Nm). This means 1971 Lotus Seven will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Reliant Kitten.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Lotus Seven | 1980 Reliant Kitten | |
| Make | Lotus | Reliant |
| Model | Seven | Kitten |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1340 cc | 848 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 85 HP | 39 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 92 Nm | 63 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 594 kg | 535 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3720 mm | 3330 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1540 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1090 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2150 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 34 L | 27 L |
