Car comparison

Lotus Esprit 3.5 i V8 32V TurbovsBMW M3 Coupe (E36) 3.2

Compare specs, acceleration, fuel consumption, dimensions, practicality, and estimated running costs side by side.

New comparison

Lotus Esprit

3.5 i V8 32V Turbo

354 hp3506 ccGasolineRWDManualTurbochargedCoupe1996-1998

BMW M3 Coupe (E36)

3.2

321 hp3201 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedCoupe1995-1999

Comparison overview

Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.

Lotus Esprit 3.5 i V8 32V Turbo

Quickest 0-100 km/h
4.9 s
Fastest top speed
282 km/h
175 mph
Most powerful
354 hp
264 kW
Highest torque
400 Nm
295 lb-ft
Lightest
1,380 kg
3,042 lb
Best power-to-weight
257 hp/t
191 kW/t
3.9 kg/hp
Best performance score
73/100

BMW M3 Coupe (E36) 3.2

Lowest city consumption
16.9 L/100 km
13.9 mpg US
16.7 mpg UK
Lowest highway consumption
7.5 L/100 km
31.4 mpg US
37.7 mpg UK
Largest trunk
405 L
Best overall score
62/100
Best economy score
77/100
Best practicality score
55/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	LotusEsprit3.5 i V8 32V Turbo	BMWM3 Coupe (E36)3.2
Power	354hp264kW	321hp239kW
Torque	400Nm295lb-ft	350Nm258lb-ft
Curb weight	1,380kg3,042lb	1,460kg3,219lb
Gross weight	1,630kg3,594lb	1,950kg4,299lb
Top speed	282 km/h 175 mph	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated
To 99% top speed	62.9s99% target: 279 km/h / 173 mph Calculated	71.1s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	4.9s	5.5s
0-200 km/h	15.1s Calculated	18.7s Calculated
0-60 mph	4.7s Calculated	5.2s Calculated
Fuel consumption	-	11L/100 km21.4mpg US25.7mpg UK
Fuel consumption city	20L/100 km11.8mpg US14.1mpg UK	16.9L/100 km13.9mpg US16.7mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	9.3L/100 km25.3mpg US30.4mpg UK	7.5L/100 km31.4mpg US37.7mpg UK
Quarter mile	12.9s Calculated	13.6s Calculated
Power-to-weight	257hp/t191kW/t116hp/1000 lb Calculated	220hp/t164kW/t100hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	290Nm/t194lb-ft/ton Calculated	240Nm/t160lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	-	564km350mi Calculated
Displacement	3,506cc214cu in	3,201cc195cu in
Length	4,370mm172in	4,433mm175in
Width	1,880mm74in	1,710mm67in
Height	1,150mm45in	1,335mm53in
Wheelbase	2,420mm95in	2,700mm106in
Front track	1,530mm60in	1,422mm56in
Rear track	1,545mm61in	1,444mm57in
Ground clearance	-	110mm4in
Trunk volume	200L	405L
Doors	2	2
Seats	2	5
Fuel tank	73L	62L

Performance charts

Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.

Dyno simulation

Estimated stock-style power and torque curves by engine speed.

Lotus Esprit 3.5 i V8 32V TurboBMW M3 Coupe (E36) 3.2PowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
LotusEsprit3.5 i V8 32V Turbo	6,500 rpm	4,250 rpm	6,750 rpm
BMWM3 Coupe (E36)3.2	7,400 rpm	3,250 rpm	7,650 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	LotusEsprit3.5 i V8 32V Turbo	BMWM3 Coupe (E36)3.2
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	4.7 s	5.2 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	4.9 s	5.5 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	15.1 s	18.7 s
Top speed	282 km/h 175 mph	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Likely limited
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.2 s	2.3 s
330 ft 101 m	5.7 s	6.0 s
1/8 mile 201 m	8.5 s	8.9 s
1000 ft 305 m	10.9 s	11.5 s
1/4 mile 402 m	12.9 s	13.6 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	185 km/h 115 mph	173 km/h 107 mph

Power comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power. Higher is better · hp / kW

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
LotusEsprit3.5 i V8 32V Turbo	354 hp 264 kW
BMWM3 Coupe (E36)3.2	321 hp 239 kW

Lotus Esprit 3.5 i V8 32V Turbo has 33 hp more than BMW M3 Coupe (E36) 3.2.

The biggest power difference is between BMW M3 Coupe (E36) 3.2 and Lotus Esprit 3.5 i V8 32V Turbo: 33 hp (25 kW).

Torque comparison

Bar comparison chart for Torque. Higher is better · Nm / lb-ft

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
LotusEsprit3.5 i V8 32V Turbo	400 Nm 295 lb-ft
BMWM3 Coupe (E36)3.2	350 Nm 258 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Curb weight. Lower is better · kg / lb

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
LotusEsprit3.5 i V8 32V Turbo	1,380 kg 3,042 lb
BMWM3 Coupe (E36)3.2	1,460 kg 3,219 lb

Top speed without limiter comparison

Bar comparison chart for Top speed without limiter. Higher is better · km/h / mph

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
LotusEsprit3.5 i V8 32V Turbo	282 km/h 175 mph
BMWM3 Coupe (E36)3.2	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

0-100 km/h comparison

Bar comparison chart for 0-100 km/h. Lower is better · seconds

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
LotusEsprit3.5 i V8 32V Turbo	4.9 s
BMWM3 Coupe (E36)3.2	5.5 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between Lotus Esprit 3.5 i V8 32V Turbo and BMW M3 Coupe (E36) 3.2: 0.6 s.

Power-to-weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power-to-weight. Higher is better · hp/t / kW/t

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
LotusEsprit3.5 i V8 32V Turbo	257 hp/t 191 kW/t 3.9 kg/hp
BMWM3 Coupe (E36)3.2	220 hp/t 164 kW/t 4.5 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
LotusEsprit3.5 i V8 32V Turbo	354 hp 264 kW	4.9 s	282 km/h 175 mph
BMWM3 Coupe (E36)3.2	321 hp 239 kW	5.5 s	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

Most attractive quadrant

Scatter chart with performance score on the X axis and practicality score on the Y axis.

Vehicle

Performance score

Practicality score

LotusEsprit3.5 i V8 32V Turbo

Power	354 hp 264 kW
0-100 km/h	4.9 s
Top speed 282 km/h 175 mph

Doors/seats	2 doors 2 seats
Trunk	200 L 7.1 cu ft
Length	4,370 mm 172.0 in
Height	1,150 mm 45.3 in

BMWM3 Coupe (E36)3.2

Power	321 hp 239 kW
0-100 km/h	5.5 s
Top speed Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

Doors/seats	2 doors 5 seats
Trunk	405 L 14.3 cu ft
Length	4,433 mm 174.5 in
Height	1,335 mm 52.6 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

LotusEsprit3.5 i V8 32V Turbo

BMWM3 Coupe (E36)3.2

Power

354 hp

264 kW

321 hp

239 kW

Torque

400 Nm

295 lb-ft

350 Nm

258 lb-ft

Acceleration

4.9 s

5.5 s

Top speed

282 km/h

175 mph

Unrestricted

265 km/h165 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

Lightness

1,380 kg

3,042 lb

1,460 kg

3,219 lb

Fuel consumption

11.0 L/100 km

21.4 mpg US

25.7 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	2 doors 2 seats
Trunk	200 L 7.1 cu ft
Length	4,370 mm 172.0 in
Height	1,150 mm 45.3 in

Doors/seats	2 doors 5 seats
Trunk	405 L 14.3 cu ft
Length	4,433 mm 174.5 in
Height	1,335 mm 52.6 in

Range score

564 km

350 mi

Trunk score

200 L

7.1 cu ft

405 L

14.3 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

257 hp/t

191 kW/t

3.9 kg/hp

220 hp/t

164 kW/t

4.5 kg/hp

Overall

Fixed score

Fuel cost and annual usage

Estimate running costs from combined consumption, your annual distance, and the fuel price in your local currency.

Average annual distanceDistance unitFuel price in your local currencyPrice unit

Enter the fuel price in your local currency, for example €/L, $/gal, £/L or any other local currency.

LC = Local Currency

Fuel cost and annual usage
Vehicle	BMW M3 Coupe (E36) 3.2
Consumption	11 L/100 km21.4 mpg US25.7 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	19.25 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	30.98 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,650 L436 US gal363 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	2,888 LC/year