2003 Bentley Continental vs. 1989 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 2003 Bentley Continental is newer by 14 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 6,750 cc (8 cylinders), 2003 Bentley Continental is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2003 Bentley Continental (421 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 249 more horse power than 1989 Lotus Esprit. (172 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2003 Bentley Continental should accelerate faster than 1989 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2003 Bentley Continental weights approximately 1275 kg more than 1989 Lotus Esprit. 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, 2003 Bentley Continental (876 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 655 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 2003 Bentley Continental will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Lotus Esprit. 2003 Bentley Continental has automatic transmission and 1989 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1989 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2003 Bentley Continental will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2003 Bentley Continental | 1989 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Bentley | Lotus |
| Model | Continental | Esprit |
| Year Released | 2003 | 1989 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 6750 cc | 2172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 421 HP | 172 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 876 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2450 kg | 1175 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5250 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2060 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1160 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2970 mm | 2440 mm |
