1978 Ford Capri vs. 2003 Lotus Exige
To start off, 2003 Lotus Exige is newer by 25 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, 2003 Lotus Exige (175 HP @ 7800 RPM) has 67 more horse power than 1978 Ford Capri. (108 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2003 Lotus Exige should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Capri weights approximately 336 kg more than 2003 Lotus Exige.
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 Ford Capri (176 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 8 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 Lotus Exige. (168 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1978 Ford Capri will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 Lotus Exige.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Capri | 2003 Lotus Exige | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Capri | Exige |
| Year Released | 1978 | 2003 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2294 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 108 HP | 175 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 7800 RPM |
| Torque | 176 Nm | 168 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 7.0:1 |
| Top Speed | 187 km/hour | 232 km/hour |
| Acceleration 0-100mph | 11.8 seconds | 5.8 seconds |
| 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 | 780 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4450 mm | 3800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1170 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2310 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 58 L | 36 L |
