1997 Bentley Continental vs. 1978 Lancia Beta
To start off, 1997 Bentley Continental is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Lancia Beta. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Lancia Beta would be higher. At 6,750 cc (8 cylinders), 1997 Bentley Continental is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Bentley Continental (421 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 303 more horse power than 1978 Lancia Beta. (118 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Bentley Continental should accelerate faster than 1978 Lancia Beta. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 Bentley Continental weights approximately 1382 kg more than 1978 Lancia Beta. 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, 1997 Bentley Continental (875 Nm) has 710 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Lancia Beta. (165 Nm). This means 1997 Bentley Continental will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Lancia Beta.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Bentley Continental | 1978 Lancia Beta | |
| Make | Bentley | Lancia |
| Model | Continental | Beta |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 6750 cc | 1995 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 421 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 875 Nm | 165 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 104.2 mm | 84 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 99.1 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 8.9:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2450 kg | 1068 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5250 mm | 3820 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2060 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3120 mm | 2310 mm |
| Fuel Consumption Overall | 17.1 L/100km | 6.7 L/100km |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 100 L | 59 L |
