1981 Ford Mustang vs. 2012 Lotus Exige
To start off, 2012 Lotus Exige is newer by 31 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Ford Mustang. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Ford Mustang would be higher. At 2,294 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Ford Mustang is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 Lotus Exige (257 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 170 more horse power than 1981 Ford Mustang. (87 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 Lotus Exige should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Mustang. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Ford Mustang weights approximately 276 kg more than 2012 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, 2012 Lotus Exige (236 Nm @ 6000 RPM) has 75 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Mustang. (161 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 2012 Lotus Exige will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Mustang.
Compare all specifications:
1981 Ford Mustang | 2012 Lotus Exige | |
Make | Ford | Lotus |
Model | Mustang | Exige |
Year Released | 1981 | 2012 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Middle |
Engine Size | 2294 cc | 1800 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 87 HP | 257 HP |
Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 8000 RPM |
Torque | 161 Nm | 236 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
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 | 1185 kg | 909 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4560 mm | 3797 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1727 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1320 mm | 1158 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2560 mm | 2299 mm |