1974 Lotus Eclat vs. 1981 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1981 Lotus Esprit is newer by 7 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 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Lotus Eclat (160 HP @ 6200 RPM) has 2 more horse power than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (158 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1974 Lotus Eclat should accelerate faster than 1981 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 65 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, 1981 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 31 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Lotus Eclat. (190 Nm @ 4900 RPM). This means 1981 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Lotus Eclat.
Compare all specifications:
1974 Lotus Eclat | 1981 Lotus Esprit | |
Make | Lotus | Lotus |
Model | Eclat | Esprit |
Year Released | 1974 | 1981 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Middle |
Engine Size | 1971 cc | 2174 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 160 HP | 158 HP |
Engine RPM | 6200 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 190 Nm | 221 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4900 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 9.4:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1055 kg | 1120 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4460 mm | 4200 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1870 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1120 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2440 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 67 L | 67 L |