1980 Lotus Esprit vs. 1966 Riley 4
To start off, 1980 Lotus Esprit is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Riley 4. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Riley 4 would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (210 HP) has 143 more horse power than 1966 Riley 4. (67 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1966 Riley 4. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 71 kg more than 1966 Riley 4. 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 Esprit (271 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 149 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Riley 4. (122 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Riley 4.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Lotus Esprit | 1966 Riley 4 | |
| Make | Lotus | Riley |
| Model | Esprit | 4 |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1966 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1622 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 210 HP | 67 HP |
| Torque | 271 Nm | 122 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.4 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1219 kg | 1148 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2530 mm |
