1990 Jaguar XJS vs. 1971 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1990 Jaguar XJS is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 3,590 cc (6 cylinders), 1990 Jaguar XJS is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 Jaguar XJS (217 HP @ 5300 RPM) has 91 more horse power than 1971 Lotus Elan. (126 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1990 Jaguar XJS should accelerate faster than 1971 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 Jaguar XJS weights approximately 760 kg more than 1971 Lotus Elan. 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, 1990 Jaguar XJS (331 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 178 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Lotus Elan. (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1990 Jaguar XJS will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
1990 Jaguar XJS | 1971 Lotus Elan | |
Make | Jaguar | Lotus |
Model | XJS | Elan |
Year Released | 1990 | 1971 |
Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 3590 cc | 1558 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 217 HP | 126 HP |
Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 331 Nm | 153 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 91 mm | 82.6 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 92 mm | 72.8 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1630 kg | 870 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4880 mm | 4270 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1800 mm | 1620 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1270 mm | 1200 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2600 mm | 2440 mm |