1988 BMW 520 vs. 1966 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1988 BMW 520 is newer by 22 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,989 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 BMW 520 (129 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 14 more horse power than 1966 Lotus Elan. (115 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1966 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 520 weights approximately 874 kg more than 1966 Lotus Elan. 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, 1988 BMW 520 (174 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 27 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Lotus Elan. (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1988 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Lotus Elan. 1988 BMW 520 has automatic transmission and 1966 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1966 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1988 BMW 520 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1988 BMW 520 | 1966 Lotus Elan | |
Make | BMW | Lotus |
Model | 520 | Elan |
Year Released | 1988 | 1966 |
Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1989 cc | 1557 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 129 HP | 115 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
Torque | 174 Nm | 147 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 82.6 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 72.8 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 9.5:1 |
Top Speed | 202 km/hour | 190 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1570 kg | 696 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 3700 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1430 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1180 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2140 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 45 L |