The Lotus Esprit reborn: inside the £430k Encor Series 1 V8 re-engineering of a true British icon
There are certain cars that don’t just sit in your memory… they take up permanent residence in your soul. For me, the Lotus Esprit is one of them. That razor-edged wedge, the Bond connection, the sheer audacity of its design… it wasn’t just a car, it was a spaceship.
So when I first heard about the Encor Series 1, a modern reinterpretation of the original Lotus Esprit S1, I started wondering if aliens had probed my mind, and stumbled upon my dream car – the purity of the original shape Esprit combined with a V8 drivetrain and all mod-cons. I’ve been salivating since the first moment they started releasing teaser images, lost my mind when they revealed the car and details, and could barely contain my excitment to finally see the car in person yesterday.
Here’s my video of the car, including a full walkaround, interior details, and an in-depth discussion about the “Esprit Remastered” with one of the founders, Simon Lane.
Not a Restomod… A Re-engineering
Let’s get one thing straight. The Encor Series 1 is not simply a restored Esprit with some modern bits bolted on. It starts with a later Lotus Esprit V8 donor car, but from there, almost everything is reworked, refined, and reimagined.
Simon was very clear about this in our conversation. The aim wasn’t to modify an Esprit for the sake of it. It was to ask a much more interesting question: What would Colin Chapman have done if he had today’s technology?
And that question underpins everything about this car.
The Design: Back to the Future
Visually, it’s unmistakably an Esprit. That iconic Giugiaro wedge shape is still there, still as sharp and dramatic as ever, in fact it’s closer to his original concept car than even the Esprit S1. But look closer and you start to notice the subtle but significant updates.
The original fibreglass body has been replaced with a full carbon fibre shell, which not only improves rigidity but also allows for cleaner, more precise surfacing. Even the famous pop-up headlights remain… but now feature modern LED projectors and improved aerodynamics.
And crucially, the design hasn’t been overcooked. There’s no unnecessary aggression, no wild aero appendages. It’s restrained, elegant, and frankly, exactly how a modern Esprit should look.
How they Remaster a Lotus Esprit
What really elevates the Encor Series 1 beyond mere homage is the sheer depth of engineering and craftsmanship behind it.
As Simon explained, each car begins life as a carefully sourced V8-era Lotus Esprit, but is then stripped back and effectively rebuilt from the ground up, with a completely new carbon fibre body crafted to tighter tolerances than the original ever allowed. Panels are digitally modelled, refined, and hand-finished, blending modern precision with old-school coachbuilding.
It’s not a production line in the traditional sense either, more a meticulous, low-volume build programme where each car is developed to individual specification. With only 50 examples planned, Encor is working through a phased delivery schedule, meaning customers aren’t just buying a car, they’re commissioning a process that unfolds over time. In other words, this isn’t something you simply order and wait for… it’s something you become part of.
The Engineering: Finally Unlocking the V8
The Encor Series 1 uses the Lotus Esprit V8 platform, chosen because it represents the most developed and capable version of the original car. The engine itself? Still the 3.5-litre twin-turbo V8… but heavily reworked.
Forged internals
Improved cooling
Updated fuel system
New ECU
Revised exhaust
The result is around 400bhp, which doesn’t sound outrageous in today’s hypercar world, but that’s missing the point. This car isn’t about chasing numbers. It’s about delivering a proper driving experience. Plus it’s light, which would have pleased Chapman. Lighter than the donar car in fact by 100kg. So, with a target weight of under 1,200kg, performance is still very serious: 0–62mph in about 4.0 seconds and a top speed of 175mph.
But more importantly, it retains things modern cars have largely abandoned: hydraulic power steering, manual gearbox and crucially, a classic analogue feel. In other words… it’s for people who actually enjoy driving.
As Simon says: “It’s not about chasing big numbers — it’s about keeping it light, responsive and engaging.”
The Interior: Old Soul, New Brain
Inside, the Encor walks a very fine line… and pulls it off beautifully. It retains the low-slung, driver-focused layout of the original Esprit, plus more interior space of the later models, and updates the:
Leather and Alcantara
Machined aluminium details
Carbon fibre structure
At the same time, it integrates modern tech:
Apple CarPlay
360-degree cameras
Digital instrument cluster
The result is a cabin that feels familiar, but not antiquated. Classic, but not compromised.
The Philosophy: Respect, Not Reinvention
One of the most refreshing aspects of the Encor Series 1 is its attitude. Simon put it perfectly. This isn’t about replacing the Lotus Esprit. It’s about respecting it. And that’s why:
The original chassis identity is retained
Donor cars are carefully selected
The core driving character is preserved
Even the decision to keep the Lotus V8, rather than swap in something else, speaks volumes. Because the goal is to build a better Lotus Esprit. While keeping the Esprit DNA intact.
“We didn’t want to modernise it for the sake of it — we wanted to preserve what made the Esprit special.”
The Numbers: Exclusivity Comes at a Price
Of course, none of this comes cheap. Here’s how the Encor Series 1 stacks up:
Specification
Encor Series 1
Base Price
~£430,000 (excl. donor car)
Production
50 units
Engine
3.5L twin-turbo V8
Power
~400bhp
Weight
<1200kg
0–62mph
~4.0 seconds
Top Speed
~175mph
Yes, it’s expensive. Very expensive. But this isn’t just a car. It’s a statement piece, a collector’s item, and arguably one of the most thoughtful reinterpretations of a classic British sports car we’ve seen in years. And to be fair, boutique supercar manufacturers often pick price tags of well in excess of a million dollars – so from that perspective, it’s a bargain!
And keep in mind that “Each car is effectively built as an individual project rather than coming off a production line.”
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters
We’re living in an era where cars are getting heavier, more digital, more disconnected. Even Lotus cars sadly! The Encor Series 1 remastered Lotus Esprit goes in the opposite direction. It takes:
A legendary analogue sports car
Applies modern engineering
But keeps the soul intact
And that’s a rare thing. This isn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. It’s evolution done properly.
Final Thoughts: Would I Have One?
Let’s be honest. If I had the means… this wouldn’t even be a question. As someone who grew up idolising the Lotus Esprit, this feels like the car that always should have existed. Cleaner, faster, better built, and finally engineered to deliver on the promise that shape always hinted at. And yet, crucially, it hasn’t lost its identity. It’s still unmistakably an Esprit, still that dramatic wedge that made so many of us fall in love with cars in the first place.
What Encor has managed to do here is something incredibly rare. They’ve improved it without diluting it. Modernised it without sanitising it. It still feels analogue, still feels special, just without the quirks and compromises that used to come as part of the package.
I adore it. Genuinely, properly, slightly obsessively adore it.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to buy a lottery ticket… and if you could all keep your fingers crossed for me, that would be greatly appreciated.
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