1976 Ford Cortina vs. 1996 Lotus Elise

To start off, 1996 Lotus Elise is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 1996 Lotus Elise is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Lotus Elise (116 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 60 more horse power than 1976 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Ford Cortina weights approximately 240 kg more than 1996 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, 1996 Lotus Elise (169 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 78 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1996 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Cortina.

Compare all specifications:

1976 Ford Cortina 1996 Lotus Elise
Make Ford Lotus
Model Cortina Elise
Year Released 1976 1996
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 116 HP
Engine RPM 5500 RPM 5500 RPM
Torque 91 Nm 169 Nm
Torque RPM 3000 RPM 3000 RPM
Engine Compression Ratio 9.0:1 10.5:1
Fuel Type Gasoline Gasoline
Drive Type Rear Rear
Transmission Type Manual Manual
Number of Seats 5 seats 2 seats
Number of Doors 2 doors 2 doors
Vehicle Weight 945 kg 705 kg
Vehicle Length 4270 mm 3730 mm
Vehicle Width 1710 mm 1710 mm
Vehicle Height 1330 mm 1150 mm
Wheelbase Size 2450 mm 2310 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 L 40 L