2007 Lotus Elise vs. 1981 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 2007 Lotus Elise is newer by 26 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 (159 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 39 more horse power than 2007 Lotus Elise. (120 HP @ 5600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 2007 Lotus Elise. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 282 kg more than 2007 Lotus Elise. 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, 1981 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 53 more torque (in Nm) than 2007 Lotus Elise. (168 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1981 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2007 Lotus Elise.
Compare all specifications:
2007 Lotus Elise | 1981 Lotus Esprit | |
Make | Lotus | Lotus |
Model | Elise | Esprit |
Year Released | 2007 | 1981 |
Body Type | Roadster | Coupe |
Engine Position | Middle | Middle |
Engine Size | 1796 cc | 2174 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
Horse Power | 120 HP | 159 HP |
Engine RPM | 5600 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 168 Nm | 221 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Engine Compression Ratio | 12.0:1 | 9.5:1 |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Top Speed | 197 km/hour | 217 km/hour |
Acceleration 0-100mph | 5.9 seconds | 7 seconds |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 785 kg | 1067 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3790 mm | 4200 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1860 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1120 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2490 mm |
Fuel Consumption Overall | 7.4 L/100km | 9.1 L/100km |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 32 L | 31 L |