1985 Lotus Esprit vs. 1974 Toyota Corolla
To start off, 1985 Lotus Esprit is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Toyota Corolla. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Toyota Corolla would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1985 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 75 more horse power than 1974 Toyota Corolla. (83 HP @ 6600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1974 Toyota Corolla. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 198 kg more than 1974 Toyota Corolla. 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, 1985 Lotus Esprit (217 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 114 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Toyota Corolla. (103 Nm @ 4600 RPM). This means 1985 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Toyota Corolla.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Lotus Esprit | 1974 Toyota Corolla | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Esprit | Corolla |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1974 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1166 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 158 HP | 83 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 6600 RPM |
| Torque | 217 Nm | 103 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.3 mm | 75 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 66 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1068 kg | 870 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4000 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2380 mm |
