1996 BMW 520 vs. 1987 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1996 BMW 520 is newer by 9 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 (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 22 more horse power than 1996 BMW 520. (150 HP @ 5900 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1987 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1996 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 BMW 520 weights approximately 392 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 @ 5000 RPM) has 31 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 BMW 520. (190 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1987 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW 520 | 1987 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 520 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1987 |
| Body Type | Sedan | 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 | 172 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 190 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.0:1 | 10.9:1 |
| Top Speed | 220 km/hour | 222 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1496 kg | 1104 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4340 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1140 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2460 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 67 L |
