How much horsepower does the Lotus Cortina have?
The Lotus Cortina road car delivers about 110 horsepower from its 1.6-liter Lotus Twin-Cam engine, though the exact figure varies by year and testing method.
Named for the Lotus-developed engine that Ford used in the Cortina, the car was a 1960s performance sedan built to blend punchy performance with everyday usability. Power ratings differed between European DIN standards and older “gross” promotional figures, and small production changes over the years can shift the published numbers.
Power figures by model and standard
Power figures vary by year and by how horsepower was measured. Here's a concise breakdown of commonly cited numbers for the road-going Cortina variants.
- Mk1 Lotus Cortina (1963–1965) — typically about 105–110 horsepower (DIN) at around 6,500–6,800 rpm. Some brochures and tests list higher gross figures (roughly 115–120 hp) depending on measurement method.
- Later Cortinas (Mk II/Series II, mid-to-late 1960s) — generally around 110 horsepower (DIN), with minor variations based on exhaust/carburettor setup; gross ratings in promotional material can be somewhat higher.
Concluding note: For road cars of the period, the standard expectation is roughly 110 hp, with the exact number depending on the testing standard and production year.
Engine and performance details
Engine design and displacement
The Cortina's power comes from a 1.6-liter Lotus Twin-Cam inline-four, a Ford–Lotus collaboration that used double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, producing a compact, rev-happy unit around 1,600 cc in displacement.
Power and torque
In typically prepared road cars, output sits around 110 horsepower (DIN) at about 6,500–6,800 rpm with peak torque near 100 lb-ft (roughly 135 Nm). Some older promotional materials cited higher gross figures.
Transmission and chassis notes
Power is channeled through a four-speed manual gearbox (with close-ratio options) to rear-wheel drive. The combination of light weight and a high-revving engine underpinned the Cortina's renowned agility for its era.
Summary
In practical terms, the Lotus Cortina's road-going version delivered around 110 horsepower from its 1.6-liter Lotus Twin-Cam engine, a figure that can vary slightly by year and measurement standard. The model remains celebrated for its blend of performance and practicality, marking a high point for 1960s family sedans.
