1974 Lotus Elite vs. 1974 Toyota Carina
To start off, both 1974 Lotus Elite and 1974 Toyota Carina were released in the same year (1974). Therefore the support and the availability on parts for both vehicles should be relatively similar. At 1,973 cc (4 cylinders), 1974 Lotus Elite is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Lotus Elite (142 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 43 more horse power than 1974 Toyota Carina. (99 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1974 Lotus Elite should accelerate faster than 1974 Toyota Carina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Lotus Elite weights approximately 110 kg more than 1974 Toyota Carina. 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, 1974 Lotus Elite (177 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 42 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Toyota Carina. (135 Nm @ 3800 RPM). This means 1974 Lotus Elite will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Toyota Carina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Lotus Elite | 1974 Toyota Carina | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elite | Carina |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1973 cc | 1589 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 142 HP | 99 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 177 Nm | 135 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.2 mm | 85 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 69.3 mm | 70 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.4:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1060 kg | 950 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4470 mm | 4140 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1830 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1220 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2430 mm |
