Remastered Lotus Esprit

In 1981 I was working in Cambridgeshire and hanging around with a bunch of car enthusiasts. The Lotus factory gave factory tours to recognised clubs and so we formed a works car club and applied. We were invited for a tour and about a dozen of us enjoyed a fantastic afternoon watching them build this fibreglass masterpiece.

Since then these cars have gone from supercars to old cars and now rising classic. Perhaps the ultimate sign of a classic cars popularity is when a car reaches such value that it is remanufactured, reimagined or restomodded.

Fifty years to the day since the world first glimpsed the striking Lotus Esprit S1 at the 1975 Paris Motor Show, Encor has launched the arrival of its carbon-fibre bodied, remastered Lotus Esprit, the Encor Series 1.

Using the original S1 as the design foundation, the Encor Series 1 combines razor-edged styling with a rebuilt engine, a carbon-fibre body shell and contemporary technology. Only 50 examples will be built.

The chassis is the foundation
Colin Chapman’s original backbone frame remains at the heart of the car, but Encor replaces the fibreglass shell with a new carbon-fibre body shell. The result is a structure that is lighter, more rigid and millimetre-precise in its construction. Surfaces are CAD-refined, aerodynamics enhanced, and the Esprit’s pop-up headlights are reimagined as low-profile LED projectors.

Donor car and powertrain
Each Encor Series 1 begins life as a Lotus Esprit V8. The engine is fully rebuilt and refined, with higher performance, improved drivability and greater everyday usability. The donor chassis, engine and gearbox identities are retained, ensuring continuity with Lotus heritage and registration.

A special place
Inside, the Esprit’s iconic wraparound cockpit has been reinterpreted with leather, Alcantara and machined aluminium. Subtle digital integration introduces Apple CarPlay, discreet 360° cameras and modern climate control. Craftsmanship and usability combine to create a cabin far beyond the original – a space that balances timeless form with contemporary comfort.

Further details, technical specifications and imagery will be shared with media under embargo ahead of the car’s full reveal in November 2025. The Encor Series 1 is priced from £430,000 GBP excluding options, taxes and Lotus Esprit V8 Donor Vehicle.

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