1972 Lincoln Continental vs. 1989 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1989 Lotus Esprit is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Lincoln Continental. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Lincoln Continental would be higher. At 7,542 cc (8 cylinders), 1972 Lincoln Continental is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Lotus Esprit (264 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 47 more horse power than 1972 Lincoln Continental. (217 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1972 Lincoln Continental. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Lincoln Continental weights approximately 1001 kg more than 1989 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 Lincoln Continental (488 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 135 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Lotus Esprit. (353 Nm @ 3900 RPM). This means 1972 Lincoln Continental will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Lotus Esprit. 1972 Lincoln Continental has automatic transmission and 1989 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1989 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1972 Lincoln Continental will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Lincoln Continental | 1989 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Lincoln | Lotus |
| Model | Continental | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1989 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 7542 cc | 2172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 217 HP | 264 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 488 Nm | 353 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 3900 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 2330 kg | 1329 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5720 mm | 4340 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2020 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1160 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3230 mm | 2460 mm |
