1980 Lotus Esprit vs. 1981 Mazda RX-7
To start off, 1981 Mazda RX-7 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,292 cc, 1981 Mazda RX-7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (208 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 104 more horse power than 1981 Mazda RX-7. (104 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1981 Mazda RX-7. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 146 kg more than 1981 Mazda RX-7. 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 (277 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 132 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Mazda RX-7. (145 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Mazda RX-7.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Lotus Esprit | 1981 Mazda RX-7 | |
| Make | Lotus | Mazda |
| Model | Esprit | RX-7 |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2172 cc | 2292 cc |
| Engine Type | in-line | dual-disk rotary |
| Horse Power | 208 HP | 104 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 277 Nm | 145 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1206 kg | 1060 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1280 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2450 mm | 2430 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 67 L | 65 L |
