2007 Lotus Elise vs. 1978 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 2007 Lotus Elise is newer by 29 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 4,941 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2007 Lotus Elise (190 HP @ 7800 RPM) has 57 more horse power than 1978 Mercury Cougar. (133 HP @ 3400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2007 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 959 kg more than 2007 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, 1978 Mercury Cougar (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 149 more torque (in Nm) than 2007 Lotus Elise. (187 Nm @ 6800 RPM). This means 1978 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2007 Lotus Elise.
Compare all specifications:
2007 Lotus Elise | 1978 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Lotus | Mercury |
Model | Elise | Cougar |
Year Released | 2007 | 1978 |
Body Type | Roadster | Coupe |
Engine Position | Middle | Front |
Engine Size | 1796 cc | 4941 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 190 HP | 133 HP |
Engine RPM | 7800 RPM | 3400 RPM |
Torque | 187 Nm | 336 Nm |
Torque RPM | 6800 RPM | 1600 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 896 kg | 1855 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3790 mm | 5480 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 2010 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1340 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2910 mm |