1981 Ford Capri vs. 1980 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1981 Ford Capri 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 2,790 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Ford Capri is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (208 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 48 more horse power than 1981 Ford Capri. (160 HP @ 5700 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 16 kg more than 1981 Ford Capri. 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 57 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Capri. (220 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Capri.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Ford Capri | 1980 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Capri | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1980 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2790 cc | 2172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 160 HP | 208 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 6250 RPM |
| Torque | 220 Nm | 277 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 93 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 68.5 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1190 kg | 1206 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4360 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2450 mm | 2450 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 59 L | 67 L |
