1974 Lotus Eclat vs. 1998 Lotus Elise
To start off, 1998 Lotus Elise is newer by 24 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 1,971 cc (4 cylinders), 1974 Lotus Eclat is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Lotus Elise (187 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 27 more horse power than 1974 Lotus Eclat. (160 HP @ 6200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1998 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1974 Lotus Eclat. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Lotus Eclat weights approximately 341 kg more than 1998 Lotus Elise.
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, 1998 Lotus Elise (193 Nm @ 5600 RPM) has 3 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Lotus Eclat. (190 Nm @ 4900 RPM). This means 1998 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Lotus Eclat.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Lotus Eclat | 1998 Lotus Elise | |
| Make | Lotus | Lotus |
| Model | Eclat | Elise |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1998 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Roadster |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 160 HP | 187 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6200 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 190 Nm | 193 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4900 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| 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 | 714 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4460 mm | 3740 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1210 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2310 mm |
