This Lotus Esprit Restomod Looks Sinister, But It Costs A Fortune

Now though, it's gone way beyond that. People are turning rare supercars into rarer supercars with a little more power and a lot more carbon fiber. Bodies are getting swapped. Interiors are digitized. It's mass hysteria, which could be good or bad depending on how much you like the original car.

Now, Lotus is in the restomod crosshairs. We aren't talking about an Elise, or the Omega, or an old Elan. In 1975, the Lotus Esprit debuted at the Paris Motor Show. Next month, the Encor Series 1 will debut as a new version of the classic Esprit, retaining the chassis and powertrain but swapping pretty much everything else. Based on the teaser photos we have now, it looks rather menacing.

1975 Meets 2025, With Help From 1996
Built by UK-based Encor Design, the Encor Series 1 starts life as a normal Lotus Esprit. It's not an S1, though – all Encors will be built from the Lotus Esprit V8, which didn't arrive until 1996. The company isn't ready to spill all the details just yet, but the conversion from Esprit to Encor starts with a completely new carbon fiber body. It replaces the old fiberglass shell, but it's not a carbon copy. Encor says the aerodynamics are enhanced, and the body panels are dialed in with greater precision for a better overall fit. Sadly, the pop-up headlights are replaced with slim LEDs.

2003 Lotus Esprit V8 engine top

It's mounted to the original Esprit chassis, and the original V8 powertrain is retained, so the Lotus soul is still there. The engine is completely rebuilt and upgraded, though we don't know exactly what that entails. Encor says the car will have "higher performance, improved drivability, and greater everyday usability." It's unclear if anything extra is done to the five-speed manual transmission; we'll assume it's at least rebuilt. The interior also gets a full makeover with leather, aluminum, and Alcantara. New tech includes cameras, an updated climate control, and "subtle" integration of Apple CarPlay.

“In every detail, we act as conservators of Chapman’s ideals. Our mission is to elevate the Esprit for a new era without sacrificing its soul.”

- Simon Lane, Encor Co-Founder

Encor Design is a young startup, but the team is packed with professionals who've worked with companies like Porsche, Aston Martin, Koenigsegg, and even Lotus. Co-Founder Simon Lane worked with Aston Martin, notably in the company's Q bespoke group, and also with Lotus Advanced Performance. Co-Founder Daniel Durrant was actually the lead designer at Lotus for the Emira, so he certainly has a bit of insight into the Esprit.

The team also includes Technical Director Mike Dickison, who held engineering roles at Tickford, among others. William Ives is Encor's managing director, and Michael Perkins holds a dual role as both a co-founder and director.

“Anyone can modify a car,” said Lane. “What sets us apart is the way we treat the Esprit – not as a project, but as a responsibility. Progress should enhance, not replace.”

The company plans to unveil the Encor Series 1 in November, but it won't be cheap. Prices will start at £430,000, which converts to nearly $578,000 in US currency and that doesn't include the cost of the Esprit V8 donor car. Only 50 are planned for production.