The original Lotus Esprit first appeared at the 1975 Paris Motor Show and quickly became an icon of 1970s sports-car design. To mark that 50-year milestone, boutique builder Encor has unveiled the Series 1: a restomod that blends the wedge profile of the original with modern engineering and daily usability.
Rather than recreate the earliest mechanical layout, Encor bases the Series 1 on the later Lotus Esprit V8. The donor platform brings a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V8 that Encor has reworked for higher output and improved drivability.
Early briefings stress the team's focus on smoothing power delivery and addressing the weaknesses of Esprit's historic gearbox.
Chassis and handling changes are expected to include revised suspension, upgraded brakes, and modern tyres calibrated to the increased performance.
The most visible structural change is a switch from the Esprit's traditional fibreglass panels to a new carbon-fibre body, reducing kerbweight and increasing rigidity. Even the classic pop-up headlights have returned, now as LED projector units for better illumination and reliability.
Key details (preview)
Model: Encor Series 1 (Lotus Esprit restomod)
Engine base: Twin-turbo 3.5-litre V8 (Esprit V8 donor)
Materials: New carbon-fibre body (replaces fibreglass)
Production: 50 units
Price: £430,000 (ex. donor vehicle)
The cabin receives a full overhaul. Encor promises modern conveniences such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and automatic climate control, packaged alongside high-quality materials and bespoke finishes that nod to the Esprit's heritage—tartan seat inserts are mentioned as an optional retro touch. Encor describes the interior as "a space that balances timeless form with contemporary comfort."
"Our mission is to elevate the Esprit for a new era without sacrificing its soul." — Simon Lane, former head of Lotus Advanced Performance
Credibility for the project is reinforced by a team that includes former Lotus talent. Designer Daniel Durrant, who led styling on the Lotus Emira, is responsible for the Series 1's visual evolution. That combination of heritage knowledge and fresh engineering underlines Encor's aim to produce a car that feels authentic yet usable.
With only 50 examples planned and a starting price of £430,000, the Encor Series 1 targets collectors and enthusiasts who want a usable classic with modern performance. Final performance figures, detailed specs, and official imagery are due with the full reveal next month, when customers will be able to place orders and begin sourcing donor Esprit V8s.
Why this matters: the restomod market has matured from boutique nostalgia projects into serious, high-value engineering efforts. The Encor Series 1 sits alongside other high-profile restorations that renovate iconic designs with contemporary materials and electronics—offering collectors the experience of a classic with few of the compromises.
For owners and buyers, key questions to watch for in the full release include exact horsepower and torque numbers, transmission updates, weight figures after the carbon conversion, and Encor's customer support and warranty structure for rebuilt donor cars. Those details will determine whether the Series 1 is primarily a showpiece or a genuine modern driver's car.
In short, Encor's Series 1 promises a faithful visual homage to Giugiaro's wedge design while delivering the engineering upgrades required for 21st-century driving. If Encor gets the mechanical and reliability aspects right, the Series 1 could become one of the most desirable Lotus restomods of the decade.
