1989 BMW 850 vs. 1976 Lancia Beta
To start off, 1989 BMW 850 is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Lancia Beta. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Lancia Beta would be higher. At 4,988 cc (12 cylinders), 1989 BMW 850 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 BMW 850 (296 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 178 more horse power than 1976 Lancia Beta. (118 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 BMW 850 should accelerate faster than 1976 Lancia Beta. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 BMW 850 weights approximately 752 kg more than 1976 Lancia Beta. 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, 1989 BMW 850 (450 Nm @ 4100 RPM) has 285 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Lancia Beta. (165 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1989 BMW 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Lancia Beta.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 BMW 850 | 1976 Lancia Beta | |
| Make | BMW | Lancia |
| Model | 850 | Beta |
| Year Released | 1989 | 1976 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 4988 cc | 1999 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 296 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 450 Nm | 165 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4100 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 8.9:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1792 kg | 1040 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4790 mm | 3820 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2340 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 90 L | 59 L |
