1980 Lotus Esprit vs. 1976 Opel Commodore
To start off, 1980 Lotus Esprit is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Opel Commodore. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Opel Commodore would be higher. At 2,783 cc (6 cylinders), 1976 Opel Commodore is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 17 more horse power than 1976 Opel Commodore. (141 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1976 Opel Commodore. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Opel Commodore weights approximately 165 kg more than 1980 Lotus Esprit.
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 (222 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 6 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Opel Commodore. (216 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Opel Commodore.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Lotus Esprit | 1976 Opel Commodore | |
| Make | Lotus | Opel |
| Model | Esprit | Commodore |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 2783 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 158 HP | 141 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 222 Nm | 216 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.3 mm | 92 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1120 kg | 1285 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4620 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2450 mm | 2670 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 67 L | 40 L |
