1996 BMW 540 vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1996 BMW 540 is newer by 27 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 4,397 cc (8 cylinders), 1996 BMW 540 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 540 (282 HP @ 5400 RPM) has 166 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (116 HP @ 6250 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 540 should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 BMW 540 weights approximately 965 kg more than 1969 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, 1996 BMW 540 (440 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 294 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1996 BMW 540 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
1996 BMW 540 | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
Make | BMW | Lotus |
Model | 540 | Elan |
Year Released | 1996 | 1969 |
Body Type | Station Wagon | Convertible |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 4397 cc | 1558 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 282 HP | 116 HP |
Engine RPM | 5400 RPM | 6250 RPM |
Torque | 440 Nm | 146 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 92 mm | 82.6 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 82.7 mm | 72.8 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 10.3:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1815 kg | 850 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 4290 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1680 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1200 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2830 mm | 2440 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 45 L |