Encor Series 1 is a stunning Lotus Esprit restomod
Is this one of the best restomods of all time?
As the original holds such a special place in my heart since seeing it in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, it might just be.
Just over 50 years on from its debut at the 1975 Paris Motor Show, the Lotus Esprit is back and better than ever. This is the Encor Series 1, a ‘respectful enhancement’ of the classic, which has been rebuilt with a carbon bodyshell and is powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V8.
Encor Design - ‘Respectful Enhancers’
The stunning finished product is the work of Encor Design, a company which specialises in heritage expertise, modern engineering and advanced digital craftsmanship to remaster iconic automotive designs. The company aims to offer ‘respectful enhancement’ of classic vehicles without ‘diluting the intent of the original creators.’
“A huge responsibility”
Encor’s Head of Design, Daniel Durrant, previously worked as Lead Designer at Lotus, where he was responsible for creating the Emira. Durrant spoke about the huge weight on his shoulders when creating the Series 1, saying: “To touch a shape like this is a huge responsibility. Every line we’ve refined, every decision we’ve made, is about honouring the original’s intent while letting the car perform, feel and function the way its silhouette always promised.”
Encor has also gathered talent who have previously worked on projects for the likes of Koenigsegg and Aston Martin, as well as engineering innovators, Skyships Automotive.
Exterior Design
The Series 1 exterior shape was created by digitally scanning the original Esprit and refining it to get ‘tighter highlights, cleaner transitions, greater precision and material honesty.’ The two-piece 1970s fibreglass body made way for an uninterrupted carbon fibre shell, giving the Esprit a crisp, sharp look that captures the spirit of its original sketches.
Modern LED headlights have been integrated into pop-up housings in a front end that retains its distinctive wedge shape, but looks cleaner and helps performance. Even the wheels take inspiration and design cues from those used 50 years ago, although, in line with the rest of the Series 1, modern materials have been used to bring the twentieth-century classic into the twenty-first century.
Performance
Under the bonnet and powering the Encor Series 1 is a mid-mounted 3.5-litre twin-turbo V8, which is the focal point of a completely reconstructed powertrain.
The chassis was stripped, blasted and refinished before being paired with an engine boasting upgraded injectors, remanufactured turbochargers, a new electronic throttle body, modern fuel and cooling systems, and an all-new stainless exhaust. The result is an improved 400bhp output, enabling a 0-62mph acceleration time of four seconds and a top speed of 175mph.
The original five-speed manual gearbox has also been reworked thanks to Quaife, giving it a stronger input shaft, revised ratios, a helical limited-slip differential, as well as a bespoke twin-plate clutch. This results in a more precise and driver-focused driving experience, while suspension, braking and steering have all been modernised in line with the other improvements — all while retaining the spirit of the original Lotus.
Interior
More of the interior, such as the sloped dashboard, wraparound instrument panel, and tartan accents, has been preserved; however, again, they have been reinterpreted and rebuilt from the frame outward to give the Series 1 a fresher feel.
A single billet of aluminium was used to create the floating instrument cluster, which sits around a modern digital display containing infotainment, climate and camera systems for a truly modern Esprit ownership experience.
Comfort is also a priority, and all seats have been restored, re-foamed and re-trimmed, while retaining their original ergonomics.
"This car is analogue at heart," said Encor co-founder Simon Lane. "We wanted to avoid the modern tendency toward gadgetry, therefore the technology exists to enhance the experience, not to dominate it.”
How many Encor Series 1 will be made?
As the release of the Series 1 comes 50 years after the Lotus Esprit made its debut, a limited production of just 50 will be made. Prices start from £430,000 excluding taxes, options and a donot Esprit V8. Yes, it is a staggering amount of money, but judging by the reaction I’ve seen on social media today, it is unlikely to put too many people off.
Work on individual commissions will take place at Encor’s UK headquarters in Chelmsford, although international clients will be able to organise private consultations. Deliveries are set to begin in Q2 of 2026 and continue into 2027.
Encor co-founder Simon Lane was ‘overwhelmed’ by the response to the Series 1
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Encor