1975 Ford Cortina vs. 2009 Lotus Elise
To start off, 2009 Lotus Elise is newer by 34 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1975 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1975 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 2009 Lotus Elise is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 Lotus Elise (189 HP @ 7800 RPM) has 133 more horse power than 1975 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2009 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1975 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1975 Ford Cortina weights approximately 90 kg more than 2009 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, 2009 Lotus Elise (181 Nm @ 6800 RPM) has 90 more torque (in Nm) than 1975 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 2009 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1975 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1975 Ford Cortina | 2009 Lotus Elise | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Cortina | Elise |
| Year Released | 1975 | 2009 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 189 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 7800 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 181 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 6800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 82 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 85 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline - Premium |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1040 kg | 950 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 3790 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2310 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 87 L | 40 L |
