2007 BMW 318 vs. 1971 Lotus Elan
To start off, 2007 BMW 318 is newer by 36 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,995 cc (4 cylinders), 2007 BMW 318 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2007 BMW 318 (127 HP @ 5750 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1971 Lotus Elan. (126 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2007 BMW 318 should accelerate faster than 1971 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2007 BMW 318 weights approximately 635 kg more than 1971 Lotus Elan. 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, 2007 BMW 318 (180 Nm @ 3250 RPM) has 27 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Lotus Elan. (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 2007 BMW 318 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
2007 BMW 318 | 1971 Lotus Elan | |
Make | BMW | Lotus |
Model | 318 | Elan |
Year Released | 2007 | 1971 |
Body Type | Station Wagon | Convertible |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1995 cc | 1558 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 127 HP | 126 HP |
Engine RPM | 5750 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 180 Nm | 153 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3250 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 82.6 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 90 mm | 72.8 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 10.3:1 |
Top Speed | 206 km/hour | 193 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1505 kg | 870 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4480 mm | 4270 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1620 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1200 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2440 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 63 L | 59 L |