1990 BMW 518 vs. 1974 Lotus Eclat
To start off, 1990 BMW 518 is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Lotus Eclat. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Lotus Eclat would be higher. At 1,971 cc (4 cylinders), 1974 Lotus Eclat is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Lotus Eclat (160 HP @ 6200 RPM) has 47 more horse power than 1990 BMW 518. (113 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Lotus Eclat should accelerate faster than 1990 BMW 518. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 BMW 518 weights approximately 305 kg more than 1974 Lotus Eclat.
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, 1974 Lotus Eclat (190 Nm @ 4900 RPM) has 29 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 BMW 518. (161 Nm @ 4250 RPM). This means 1974 Lotus Eclat will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 BMW 518.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 BMW 518 | 1974 Lotus Eclat | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 518 | Eclat |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1974 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1794 cc | 1971 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6200 RPM |
| Torque | 161 Nm | 190 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 4900 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 95.2 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 81 mm | 69.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1360 kg | 1055 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4460 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 80 L | 67 L |
