1972 Ford Gran Torino vs. 1988 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1988 Lotus Esprit is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Ford Gran Torino. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Ford Gran Torino would be higher. At 4,095 cc (6 cylinders), 1972 Ford Gran Torino is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 75 more horse power than 1972 Ford Gran Torino. (97 HP @ 3600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1972 Ford Gran Torino. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Ford Gran Torino weights approximately 469 kg more than 1988 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, 1972 Ford Gran Torino (245 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 24 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1972 Ford Gran Torino will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 Lotus Esprit.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Ford Gran Torino | 1988 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Gran Torino | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 4095 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 97 HP | 172 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 245 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1645 kg | 1176 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5270 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2020 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1320 mm | 1160 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2440 mm |
