1972 BMW 520 vs. 1990 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1990 Lotus Esprit is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 BMW 520 would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1990 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 59 more horse power than 1972 BMW 520. (113 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1990 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1972 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 BMW 520 weights approximately 55 kg more than 1990 Lotus Esprit.
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, 1990 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 56 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 BMW 520. (165 Nm @ 3700 RPM). This means 1990 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 BMW 520 | 1990 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 520 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1990 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1989 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 172 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1230 kg | 1175 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1160 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2640 mm | 2440 mm |
