2009 Alfa Romeo 159 vs. 1970 Ford Cortina

To start off, 2009 Alfa Romeo 159 is newer by 39 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,993 cc (4 cylinders), 1970 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 Alfa Romeo 159 (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 61 more horse power than 1970 Ford Cortina. (97 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2009 Alfa Romeo 159 should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2009 Alfa Romeo 159 weights approximately 553 kg more than 1970 Ford Cortina. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1970 Ford Cortina is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1970 Ford Cortina. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2009 Alfa Romeo 159, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 2009 Alfa Romeo 159 (190 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 39 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Cortina. (151 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 2009 Alfa Romeo 159 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Cortina. 1970 Ford Cortina has automatic transmission and 2009 Alfa Romeo 159 has manual transmission. 2009 Alfa Romeo 159 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1970 Ford Cortina will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

Compare all specifications:

2009 Alfa Romeo 159 1970 Ford Cortina
Make Alfa Romeo Ford
Model 159 Cortina
Year Released 2009 1970
Engine Position Front Front
Engine Size 1859 cc 1993 cc
Engine Cylinders 4 cylinders 4 cylinders
Engine Type in-line in-line
Horse Power 158 HP 97 HP
Engine RPM 6500 RPM 5500 RPM
Torque 190 Nm 151 Nm
Torque RPM 4500 RPM 3500 RPM
Engine Bore Size 86 mm 90.8 mm
Engine Stroke Size 80 mm 77 mm
Fuel Type Gasoline - Premium Gasoline
Top Speed 212 km/hour 169 km/hour
Drive Type Front Rear
Transmission Type Manual Automatic
Number of Seats 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Doors 4 doors 2 doors
Vehicle Weight 1555 kg 1002 kg
Vehicle Length 4670 mm 4280 mm
Vehicle Width 1830 mm 1710 mm
Vehicle Height 1420 mm 1330 mm
Wheelbase Size 2710 mm 2590 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 70 L 87 L