ENCOR'S REIMAGINED LOTUS ESPRIT, THE SERIES 1, EVEN FEATURES POP UP LIGHTS - BOND WOULD LOVE IT.
Fifty years after the original Lotus Esprit stunned the 1975 Paris Motor Show with its razor-sharp wedge and unapologetic purity, Encor unveils the Series 1, a remastered, carbon-fibre evolution designed to celebrate one of automotive design’s most recognisable silhouettes. This is no mere restomod; it’s what Encor calls respectful enhancement. Drawing on decades of experience with Lotus, Aston Martin, Koenigsegg, and Skyships Automotive, the design and engineering team approached the Esprit as cultural heritage, not a blank canvas. Every decision - every line refined, every surface recalibrated - honours the original’s intent while unlocking capabilities the 1970s platform could only dream of. The body itself is a study in modern craftsmanship: digitally scanned, perfected, and recast in uninterrupted autoclaved carbon fibre that removes the original’s two-piece fibreglass seams. The taut wheelarch surfaces, crisp shoulder lines, and sculptural front volumes feel unmistakably Esprit, yet speak of a precision and material honesty impossible in the 1970s. Pop-up headlamps survive in spirit but now house ultra-compact LEDs; the stance widens subtly to accommodate contemporary tyres and brake cooling. Even the wheels are an homage - Encor’s forged and billet-machined designs reinterpret the classic slot-mags and Sport 350 five-spokes with modern structural clarity. This wedge doesn’t whisper its heritage - it broadcasts it, with every angle and surface a direct dialogue between past and present.
Beneath the full-carbon shell, the Series 1 retains the mid-mounted 3.5-litre V8 of its Lotus V8 ancestor, but it is rebuilt and reimagined for today: forged pistons, upgraded injectors, remanufactured turbos, new electronic throttle, modern fuel and cooling systems, and a stainless exhaust combine to yield 298 kW and 474 Nm, driving a sub-1,200 kg kerb weight to 0–100 km/h in just four seconds and a top speed approaching 280 km/h. The five-speed manual gets the Quaife treatment, with a stronger input shaft, revised ratios, helical limited-slip differential, and bespoke twin-plate clutch, while Sport 350 suspension, AP Racing brakes, and hydraulic steering preserve analogue tactility. Inside, the cockpit remains instantly familiar - sloped dashboard, wraparound binnacle, tartan accents - but is rebuilt from the frame outward with modern clarity and craftsmanship. The floating instrument cluster, machined from a single aluminium billet and wrapped around a modern digital display, marries structural honesty with digital precision, while the carbon-fibre dashboard T and re-foamed, re-trimmed seats retain original ergonomics and elevate support. Infotainment, climate, and camera systems are seamlessly integrated, enhancing function without overshadowing analogue purity. As co-founder Simon Lane explains, “This car is analogue at heart,” and that ethos permeates every corner. The Series 1 is also a testament to Encor Design itself: a collaborative force drawing on decades of top-tier experience, including Lotus Emira design, Koenigsegg programmes, Aston Martin bespoke projects, and Skyships’ electronics mastery. Production is strictly limited to 50 individually commissioned cars worldwide, each requiring a donor Esprit V8, beginning at £430,000. The Encor Series 1 doesn’t just resurrect a legend - it elevates it, respecting the past while injecting the performance, precision, and presence that 21st-century enthusiasts demand. This is the Esprit, reimagined, reborn, and utterly irresistible - the wedge, perfected for those who love analogue purity, sculptural form, and the thrill of connection between car and driver.
Take a look at the YouTube video showcasing this reimagined Lotus Esprit, reviewed by the chaps at Top Gear, so you know it's well worth a watch: New Lotus Esprit: V8 Supercar Reborn! | Top Gear
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