1974 Lotus Eclat vs. 1979 Mazda 121
To start off, 1979 Mazda 121 is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Lotus Eclat. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Lotus Eclat would be higher. At 1,973 cc (4 cylinders), 1974 Lotus Eclat is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Lotus Eclat (160 HP @ 6200 RPM) has 70 more horse power than 1979 Mazda 121. (90 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1974 Lotus Eclat should accelerate faster than 1979 Mazda 121. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mazda 121 weights approximately 28 kg more than 1974 Lotus Eclat.
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, 1974 Lotus Eclat (190 Nm @ 4900 RPM) has 30 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Mazda 121. (160 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1974 Lotus Eclat will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Mazda 121.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Lotus Eclat | 1979 Mazda 121 | |
| Make | Lotus | Mazda |
| Model | Eclat | 121 |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1973 cc | 1970 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 160 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6200 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 190 Nm | 160 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4900 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.2 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 69.3 mm | 98 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1106 kg | 1134 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4460 mm | 4510 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1690 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2520 mm |
