2009 Lotus Elise vs. 1978 Ford Capri
To start off, 2009 Lotus Elise is newer by 31 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Capri. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Capri would be higher. At 1,993 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Ford Capri is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 Lotus Elise (186 HP @ 7800 RPM) has 89 more horse power than 1978 Ford Capri. (97 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2009 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Capri weights approximately 247 kg more than 2009 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 Ford Capri (151 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 18 more torque (in Nm) than 2009 Lotus Elise. (133 Nm @ 6800 RPM). This means 1978 Ford Capri will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2009 Lotus Elise. 1978 Ford Capri has automatic transmission and 2009 Lotus Elise has manual transmission. 2009 Lotus Elise will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Ford Capri will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2009 Lotus Elise | 1978 Ford Capri | |
| Make | Lotus | Ford |
| Model | Elise | Capri |
| Year Released | 2009 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 186 HP | 97 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7800 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 133 Nm | 151 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 6800 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 86.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 89.3 mm | 86.1 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 785 kg | 1032 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3800 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2570 mm |
