1990 BMW 520 vs. 1987 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1990 BMW 520 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1987 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1987 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1987 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Lotus Esprit (160 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1990 BMW 520. (145 HP @ 5900 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1987 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1990 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 BMW 520 weights approximately 475 kg more than 1987 Lotus Esprit.
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, 1987 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5250 RPM) has 35 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 BMW 520. (186 Nm @ 4700 RPM). This means 1987 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 BMW 520 | 1987 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 520 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1987 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1991 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 145 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 186 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4700 RPM | 5250 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 95.4 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1542 kg | 1067 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2490 mm |
