1988 Honda NSX vs. 1980 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1988 Honda NSX is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,977 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 Honda NSX is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Honda NSX (251 HP @ 6800 RPM) has 43 more horse power than 1980 Lotus Esprit. (208 HP @ 6250 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Honda NSX should accelerate faster than 1980 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Honda NSX weights approximately 10 kg more than 1980 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, 1988 Honda NSX (288 Nm @ 5300 RPM) has 11 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Lotus Esprit. (277 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1988 Honda NSX will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Lotus Esprit.
Compare all specifications:
1988 Honda NSX | 1980 Lotus Esprit | |
Make | Honda | Lotus |
Model | NSX | Esprit |
Year Released | 1988 | 1980 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Middle | Middle |
Engine Size | 2977 cc | 2172 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
Horse Power | 251 HP | 208 HP |
Engine RPM | 6800 RPM | 6250 RPM |
Torque | 288 Nm | 277 Nm |
Torque RPM | 5300 RPM | 4500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 90 mm | 95.3 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 78 mm | 76.2 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1216 kg | 1206 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4320 mm | 4200 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1870 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1120 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2510 mm | 2450 mm |