1980 Lotus Eclat vs. 1975 Sunbeam Alpine
To start off, 1980 Lotus Eclat is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1975 Sunbeam Alpine. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1975 Sunbeam Alpine would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Lotus Eclat is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Eclat (160 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 89 more horse power than 1975 Sunbeam Alpine. (71 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Eclat should accelerate faster than 1975 Sunbeam Alpine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Lotus Eclat weights approximately 94 kg more than 1975 Sunbeam Alpine. 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, 1980 Lotus Eclat (217 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 94 more torque (in Nm) than 1975 Sunbeam Alpine. (123 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Eclat will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1975 Sunbeam Alpine. 1975 Sunbeam Alpine has automatic transmission and 1980 Lotus Eclat has manual transmission. 1980 Lotus Eclat will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1975 Sunbeam Alpine will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Lotus Eclat | 1975 Sunbeam Alpine | |
| Make | Lotus | Sunbeam |
| Model | Eclat | Alpine |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1975 |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1725 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 160 HP | 71 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 217 Nm | 123 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1104 kg | 1010 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4460 mm | 4430 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1650 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1210 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2510 mm |
