1975 BMW 520 vs. 1981 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1981 Lotus Esprit is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1975 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1975 BMW 520 would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 35 more horse power than 1975 BMW 520. (123 HP @ 5700 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1975 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1975 BMW 520 weights approximately 175 kg more than 1981 Lotus Esprit.
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 49 more torque (in Nm) than 1975 BMW 520. (172 Nm @ 4350 RPM). This means 1981 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1975 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
| 1975 BMW 520 | 1981 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 520 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1975 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1991 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 123 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 172 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4350 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.3:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1295 kg | 1120 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2640 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 67 L |
