2004 BMW 320 vs. 1981 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 2004 BMW 320 is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 10 more horse power than 2004 BMW 320. (148 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 2004 BMW 320. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2004 BMW 320 weights approximately 370 kg more than 1981 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, 2004 BMW 320 (355 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 134 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 2004 BMW 320 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Lotus Esprit.
Compare all specifications:
2004 BMW 320 | 1981 Lotus Esprit | |
Make | BMW | Lotus |
Model | 320 | Esprit |
Year Released | 2004 | 1981 |
Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Middle |
Engine Size | 1993 cc | 2174 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
Horse Power | 148 HP | 158 HP |
Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 355 Nm | 221 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Engine Compression Ratio | 17.0:1 | 9.4:1 |
Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1490 kg | 1120 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4480 mm | 4200 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1750 mm | 1870 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1120 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2440 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 63 L | 67 L |