1999 Lotus Elise vs. 1978 Mazda Cosmo
To start off, 1999 Lotus Elise is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mazda Cosmo. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mazda Cosmo would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 1999 Lotus Elise is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1999 Lotus Elise (118 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 25 more horse power than 1978 Mazda Cosmo. (93 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1999 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1978 Mazda Cosmo. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mazda Cosmo weights approximately 384 kg more than 1999 Lotus Elise.
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, 1999 Lotus Elise (165 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 15 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mazda Cosmo. (150 Nm @ 3300 RPM). This means 1999 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mazda Cosmo. 1978 Mazda Cosmo has automatic transmission and 1999 Lotus Elise has manual transmission. 1999 Lotus Elise will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Mazda Cosmo will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1999 Lotus Elise | 1978 Mazda Cosmo | |
| Make | Lotus | Mazda |
| Model | Elise | Cosmo |
| Year Released | 1999 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 150 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 89.4 mm | 88 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 708 kg | 1092 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3730 mm | 4480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1690 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1210 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2520 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 40 L | 65 L |
