1973 Ford Cortina vs. 1987 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1987 Lotus Esprit is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1987 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Lotus Esprit (160 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 104 more horse power than 1973 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1987 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1973 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 27 kg more than 1973 Ford Cortina. 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, 1987 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5250 RPM) has 130 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1987 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 Ford Cortina | 1987 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Cortina | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1973 | 1987 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1296 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 5250 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 95.4 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1040 kg | 1067 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 87 L | 31 L |
