2006 Lotus Elise vs. 1959 Riley 4-68
To start off, 2006 Lotus Elise is newer by 47 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Riley 4-68. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Riley 4-68 would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 2006 Lotus Elise is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2006 Lotus Elise (189 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 126 more horse power than 1959 Riley 4-68. (63 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2006 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1959 Riley 4-68. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Riley 4-68 weights approximately 306 kg more than 2006 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, 2006 Lotus Elise (168 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 53 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Riley 4-68. (115 Nm @ 3300 RPM). This means 2006 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Riley 4-68.
Compare all specifications:
| 2006 Lotus Elise | 1959 Riley 4-68 | |
| Make | Lotus | Riley |
| Model | Elise | 4-68 |
| Year Released | 2006 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1489 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 189 HP | 63 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 168 Nm | 115 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 73 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 85 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.0:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Top Speed | 241 km/hour | 142 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 786 kg | 1092 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3790 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1520 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2530 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 40 L | 45 L |
