1979 Lotus Esprit vs. 1970 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1979 Lotus Esprit is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Lotus Esprit (160 HP) has 65 more horse power than 1970 Ford Cortina. (95 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1979 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Cortina.
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, 1979 Lotus Esprit (217 Nm) has 69 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Cortina. (148 Nm). This means 1979 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Cortina. 1970 Ford Cortina has automatic transmission and 1979 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1979 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1970 Ford Cortina will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Lotus Esprit | 1970 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Lotus | Ford |
| Model | Esprit | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 160 HP | 95 HP |
| Torque | 217 Nm | 148 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4280 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2590 mm |
