2008 BMW 120 vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 2008 BMW 120 is newer by 39 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,995 cc (4 cylinders), 2008 BMW 120 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2008 BMW 120 (161 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 43 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (118 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2008 BMW 120 should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2008 BMW 120 weights approximately 455 kg more than 1969 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, 2008 BMW 120 (330 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 184 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 2008 BMW 120 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
2008 BMW 120 | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
Make | BMW | Lotus |
Model | 120 | Elan |
Year Released | 2008 | 1969 |
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 | 161 HP | 118 HP |
Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
Torque | 330 Nm | 146 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 82.6 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 90 mm | 72.8 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 17.0:1 | 9.5:1 |
Top Speed | 218 km/hour | 190 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1344 kg | 889 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4230 mm | 4300 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1440 mm | 1680 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1760 mm | 1200 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2440 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 50 L | 59 L |