1987 Lotus Esprit vs. 1971 Sunbeam Alpine
To start off, 1987 Lotus Esprit is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Sunbeam Alpine would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1987 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 101 more horse power than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. (71 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1987 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 94 kg more than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. 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 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 98 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. (123 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1987 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine.
Compare all specifications:
1987 Lotus Esprit | 1971 Sunbeam Alpine | |
Make | Lotus | Sunbeam |
Model | Esprit | Alpine |
Year Released | 1987 | 1971 |
Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1725 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 172 HP | 71 HP |
Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Torque | 221 Nm | 123 Nm |
Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Vehicle Weight | 1104 kg | 1010 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4340 mm | 4430 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1650 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1140 mm | 1410 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2460 mm | 2510 mm |