1973 Ford Cortina vs. 2001 Lotus Exige
To start off, 2001 Lotus Exige is newer by 28 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 1,794 cc (4 cylinders), 2001 Lotus Exige is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2001 Lotus Exige (177 HP @ 7800 RPM) has 121 more horse power than 1973 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2001 Lotus Exige should accelerate faster than 1973 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Ford Cortina weights approximately 165 kg more than 2001 Lotus Exige.
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, 2001 Lotus Exige (174 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 83 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 2001 Lotus Exige will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 Ford Cortina | 2001 Lotus Exige | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Cortina | Exige |
| Year Released | 1973 | 2001 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 1794 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 177 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 7800 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 174 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 89.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 7.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 945 kg | 780 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 3800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1190 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2310 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 36 L |
