Lotus Esprit returns to the spotlight, now with carbon fibre and 400 horsepower
British boutique builder Encor has pulled the covers off its new Series 1 coupé. The car reimagines the first generation Lotus Esprit, yet approaches the icon from a sharper angle. The historic silhouette remains, while the engineering steps boldly into a new era. The result feels like an invitation to anyone whose garage still has room for a nostalgic piece of automotive art. Prices start at 430 thousand pounds (about 500 thousand euros), and buyers must supply a donor car on top.
The Series 1 uses the 1996 Lotus Esprit V8 as its base, the version that became the most common of the breed. To stiffen the chassis, Encor looked to the Sport 350, the most athletic factory variant of its day. AP Racing hardware, revised suspension and a lightweight body form a package that hides none of its sporting intent.
At its core sits Lotus’s own 3.5 litre V8. Encor reworked it extensively with new intake systems, improved cooling management, forged pistons, updated forced induction and a bespoke exhaust. Power climbs to 400 horsepower and torque to 478 newton metres. The engine pairs with a Quaife five speed gearbox, a twin clutch setup and a limited slip differential.
The smooth curves of the original Esprit V8 make way for sharper, wedge shaped forms that echo the aesthetic of the 1975 car. Every panel is crafted from carbon fibre, trimming the kerb weight to about 1.2 tonnes. On paper that delivers a sprint to 100 kilometres per hour in four seconds and a top speed of around 280 kilometres per hour, a touch faster than the period V8.
The preserved headlights add a chapter of their own. They recall an age when sports cars resembled sci fi wedges shaped by pencils and engineering bravado. Modern LED units now light the way, maintaining the classic look while offering contemporary brightness.
Inside, the Esprit’s familiar architecture remains. Carbon fibre appears generously, matched with fresh trims that whisper vintage rather than mimic it. A digital instrument cluster sits in an aluminium frame ahead of the driver. A large infotainment screen occupies the centre. Together these elements create a cabin that respects the past and tells a timeless story.
Encor plans to build only 50 examples, with first deliveries set for 2026. Projects like this show how classic sports cars keep finding new lives. Rivals are also searching for ways to blend traditional design with current technology. Encor chooses a more radical path and offers a version that demonstrates the audacity of a small brand. The restomod market keeps expanding, and every new interpretation claims its place in the quiet race between nostalgic style and modern performance.
The Series 1 suggests that a legend can be reborn, and does so in a way that would make even the spirit of decades past nod in approval.
