1989 BMW 850 vs. 1981 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1989 BMW 850 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Lotus Esprit 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 138 more horse power than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (158 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 BMW 850 should accelerate faster than 1981 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 BMW 850 weights approximately 135 kg more than 1981 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, 1989 BMW 850 (450 Nm @ 4100 RPM) has 229 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1989 BMW 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Lotus Esprit. 1989 BMW 850 has automatic transmission and 1981 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1981 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 BMW 850 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 BMW 850 | 1981 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 850 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1989 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 4988 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 296 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 450 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4100 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1255 kg | 1120 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4790 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 90 L | 67 L |
