1978 BMW 520 vs. 1974 Lotus Elite
To start off, 1978 BMW 520 is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Lotus Elite. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Lotus Elite would be higher. 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 7 more horse power than 1978 BMW 520. (135 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Lotus Elite should accelerate faster than 1978 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 BMW 520 weights approximately 610 kg more than 1974 Lotus Elite.
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, 1978 BMW 520 (280 Nm @ 1750 RPM) has 103 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Lotus Elite. (177 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1978 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Lotus Elite.
Compare all specifications:
1978 BMW 520 | 1974 Lotus Elite | |
Make | BMW | Lotus |
Model | 520 | Elite |
Year Released | 1978 | 1974 |
Body Type | Station Wagon | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1951 cc | 1973 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 135 HP | 142 HP |
Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 280 Nm | 177 Nm |
Torque RPM | 1750 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 95.2 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 88 mm | 69.3 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 19.0:1 | 8.4:1 |
Top Speed | 204 km/hour | 190 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1670 kg | 1060 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 4470 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1830 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1220 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2490 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 67 L |