In a market awash with restomods, few projects carry the same sense of reverence and responsibility as the Encor Series 1, a meticulously remastered take on the original Lotus Esprit. The British automaker aims to preserve the soul of Giugiaro’s 1975 wedge-shaped icon while elevating performance, comfort, and craftsmanship to modern expectations.
Encor calls this process “remastering” for a reason. The car begins with the core principles of Lotus DNA, lightness, efficiency, and purity, before being reconstructed with contemporary techniques and materials. The most significant shift is structural: the Esprit’s steel backbone chassis gives way to a bespoke carbon-fibre monocoque, dramatically increasing rigidity and sharpening responses without compromising the original intent. The iconic silhouette remains unmistakable, its surfaces only subtly refined.
Power comes from a thoroughly re-engineered version of the mid-mounted Lotus Type 918 3.5-litre twin-turbo V8. Now producing 395 hp and 475 Nm, it promises 0–100 km/h in 4.0 seconds and a top speed of over 280 km/h, which is impressive given the projected kerb weight of just 1,200 kg.
Inside, the Series 1 delivers a complete transformation while remaining faithful to the Esprit’s T-shaped cockpit and wraparound binnacle. Machined aluminium, leather and Alcantara form the backdrop for digital interfaces, Apple CarPlay, 360-degree cameras, heated seats, and modern climate control ensure everything is completely up to date inside. It’s still unmistakably an Esprit interior, simply elevated to the standards of a contemporary grand tourer.
Only 50 examples of the Encor Series 1 will be built, each hand-crafted and individually numbered.
