1981 BMW 520 vs. 1989 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1989 Lotus Esprit is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 BMW 520 would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1989 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Lotus Esprit (216 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 93 more horse power than 1981 BMW 520. (123 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1981 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 BMW 520 weights approximately 72 kg more than 1989 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, 1989 Lotus Esprit (298 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 128 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 BMW 520. (170 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1989 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
1981 BMW 520 | 1989 Lotus Esprit | |
Make | BMW | Lotus |
Model | 520 | Esprit |
Year Released | 1981 | 1989 |
Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Middle |
Engine Size | 1991 cc | 2174 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 123 HP | 216 HP |
Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
Torque | 170 Nm | 298 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4250 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 95.3 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 76.2 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.8:1 | 8.0:1 |
Top Speed | 185 km/hour | 245 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1220 kg | 1148 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 4200 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1860 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1120 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2440 mm |