Encor Series 1: A Carbon-fibre Revival of the Lotus Esprit
Fifty years to the day since the world first glimpsed the striking Lotus Esprit S1 at the 1975 Paris Motor Show, Encor announces the arrival of its own carbon-fibre-bodied, remastered Lotus Esprit, the Encor Series 1. This British sports car pays tribute to a design icon while introducing precise engineering, modern usability and carefully integrated technology.
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. Encor will build only 50 examples to preserve rarity and craftsmanship.
Colin Chapman’s original backbone frame remains at the heart of the car, and Encor replaces the fibreglass shell with a new carbon fibre body shell. The result delivers a structure that is lighter, more rigid, and millimetre-precise in its construction. Teams refine surfaces in CAD, enhance aerodynamics, and reimagine the Esprit’s defining pop-up headlights as low-profile LED projectors.
“In every detail, we act as conservators of Chapman’s ideals,” says Simon Lane, Encor Co-Founder. “Our mission is to elevate the Esprit for a new era without sacrificing its soul.”
Each Encor Series 1 begins life as a Lotus Esprit V8. Engineers fully rebuild and refine the engine for higher performance, improved drivability and greater everyday usability. The donor chassis, engine and gearbox identities remain in place, ensuring continuity with Lotus heritage and registration that owners value.
Inside, the Esprit’s iconic wraparound cockpit appears to be reinterpreted with leather, Alcantara, and machined aluminium. Subtle digital integration adds Apple CarPlay, discreet 360° cameras and modern climate control. Craftsmanship and usability combine to create a cabin that surpasses the original, a space that balances timeless form with contemporary comfort for both road and collection use.
Each member of Encor’s leadership team brings over three decades of experience at the highest levels of the industry, having worked with notable brands such as Pagani, Koenigsegg, Aston Martin, Porsche, and Lotus. The team helped deliver the acclaimed Lotus Emira and led high-end personalisation programmes at Q by Aston Martin and Lotus Advanced Performance, grounding the project in proven expertise.
“Anyone can modify a car,” adds Simon Lane, Encor Co-Founder. “What sets us apart is the way we treat the Esprit – not as a project, but as a responsibility. Progress should enhance, not replace.”
Encor will share further details, technical specifications and imagery with media under embargo ahead of the full reveal in November 2025. Encor prices the Series 1 from £430,000 GBP, excluding options, taxes, and the Lotus Esprit V8 donor vehicle, underlining its position as a limited-edition, carbon-fibre reimagining of a landmark Lotus Esprit.
