1981 Ford Capri vs. 2002 Lotus Exige
To start off, 2002 Lotus Exige is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Ford Capri. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Ford Capri would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 2002 Lotus Exige is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2002 Lotus Exige (177 HP @ 7800 RPM) has 124 more horse power than 1981 Ford Capri. (53 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2002 Lotus Exige should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Ford Capri weights approximately 210 kg more than 2002 Lotus Exige.
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, 2002 Lotus Exige (181 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 96 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Capri. (85 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 2002 Lotus Exige will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Capri.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Ford Capri | 2002 Lotus Exige | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Capri | Exige |
| Year Released | 1981 | 2002 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1296 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 53 HP | 177 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 7800 RPM |
| Torque | 85 Nm | 181 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 79 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 89.3 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 990 kg | 780 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 3800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1190 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2310 mm |
