1981 Lotus Esprit vs. 1987 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1987 Lotus Esprit 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. Both 1981 Lotus Esprit and 1987 Lotus Esprit are equipped with a 2,174 cc engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 14 more horse power than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1987 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1981 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 16 kg more than 1987 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, both vehicles can yield 221 Nm of torque. So under normal driving conditions, the ability to climb up hills and pull heavy equipment should be relatively similar for both vehicles.
Compare all specifications:
1981 Lotus Esprit | 1987 Lotus Esprit | |
Make | Lotus | Lotus |
Model | Esprit | Esprit |
Year Released | 1981 | 1987 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Middle | Middle |
Engine Size | 2174 cc | 2174 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
Horse Power | 158 HP | 172 HP |
Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 221 Nm | 221 Nm |
Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.4:1 | 10.9:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1120 kg | 1104 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4340 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1870 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1140 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2460 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 67 L | 67 L |