1992 BMW 320 vs. 1989 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1992 BMW 320 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1989 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1989 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1989 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Lotus Esprit (216 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 66 more horse power than 1992 BMW 320. (150 HP @ 5900 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1992 BMW 320. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1992 BMW 320 weights approximately 232 kg more than 1989 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, 1989 Lotus Esprit (298 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 108 more torque (in Nm) than 1992 BMW 320. (190 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1989 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1992 BMW 320.
Compare all specifications:
| 1992 BMW 320 | 1989 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 320 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1992 | 1989 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1990 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 150 HP | 216 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 190 Nm | 298 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.0:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1380 kg | 1148 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4440 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1800 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2710 mm | 2440 mm |
