1981 Lotus Esprit vs. 1987 Chevrolet Corvette
To start off, 1987 Chevrolet Corvette is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 5,733 cc (8 cylinders), 1987 Chevrolet Corvette is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Chevrolet Corvette (242 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 34 more horse power than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (208 HP @ 6250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1987 Chevrolet Corvette should accelerate faster than 1981 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Chevrolet Corvette weights approximately 238 kg more than 1981 Lotus Esprit. 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, 1987 Chevrolet Corvette (454 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 177 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (277 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1987 Chevrolet Corvette will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Lotus Esprit. 1987 Chevrolet Corvette has automatic transmission and 1981 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1981 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1987 Chevrolet Corvette will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Lotus Esprit | 1987 Chevrolet Corvette | |
| Make | Lotus | Chevrolet |
| Model | Esprit | Corvette |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1987 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2172 cc | 5733 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 208 HP | 242 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 277 Nm | 454 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1200 kg | 1438 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4490 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1190 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2450 mm | 2450 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 71 L | 42 L |
