1978 Ford Capri vs. 1981 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1981 Lotus Esprit is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Capri. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Capri would be higher. At 2,294 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Ford Capri is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 50 more horse power than 1978 Ford Capri. (108 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 4 kg more than 1978 Ford Capri. 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, 1981 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 45 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Capri. (176 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1981 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Capri.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Capri | 1981 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Capri | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2294 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 108 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 176 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1116 kg | 1120 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4450 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 58 L | 67 L |
