If I see another "reimagined" Porsche 911 with quilted leather and the price of a small island, I'm probably going to puke. Seriously. The restomod world has become so saturated with German bugs that it's almost vulgar. But just when I thought the rich had run out of imagination, along comes the Encor Series 1. A car that takes the legendary Lotus Esprit, strips it of its British tendency to decay, and adds what it always needed—modern engineering and a carbon diet.
Let's be honest. Lotus Esprit was always that car you had on the poster in your room, right next to Samantha Fox. It was wedge-shaped, it was Bond's car (the one that went underwater), and it was the work of master Giorgetto Giugiaro. But it had one problem: it was assembled in England at a time when "quality control" was a loose recommendation, not a rule. Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus, was famous for his philosophy of "add lightness," which in practice often meant "subtract reliability." Let's look at reincarnation - Encor Series 1.
This is where Encor comes in. What did they do? They took the soul and mechanics of the late model V8, stripped him naked and dressed him in a suit he should have worn back in 1976.
Engineering “er0s” under the skin
The basis of this machine is donor Lotus Esprit V8. But before you roll your eyes, know that Encor doesn't just "fix" a car; they reinvent it. The steel backbone chassis is completely rebuilt and galvanised. Rust? Forget it. This is probably the first British car from this era that won't turn to brown dust if you look at it too hard.
The heart of the beast is a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V8 engine (Type 918). Originally, this engine was limited because the Lotus gearbox couldn't handle the torque without turning into a salad of gears. Encor has completely overhauled the engine: forged pistons, new turbines, modern injection.
The result? A flat-plane crank engine that revs like a race car and produces 298 kW (400 hp). That may not sound like much in the age of 1,000-horsepower electric hypercars, but remember: this car weighs barely more than a Mazda Miata. That means the power-to-weight ratio is downright terrifying.
“This is not a car for a generation that needs a touchscreen to adjust the climate control. This is a car for a driver who knows what a mid-range gas is.”
Power is sent to the rear wheels (thank goodness) via a 5-speed manual transmission. Yes, you read that right. Manual transmission. In a world where cars shift gears faster than you can blink, manual transmission ultimate luxuryEncor worked with specialists at Quaife to strengthen the transmission and add a limited-slip differential. Finally, you can use those 400 horsepower without worrying about the gear lever remaining in your hand.
Numbers that count
When you step on the gas, magic happens.
- Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph): Less than 4.1 seconds.
- Top speed: 282 km/h (175 mph).
These are numbers that will put many a modern sports car, packed with electronics and weighing as much as a small tank, to shame at the traffic lights.
Design: When Giugiaro meets the 21st century
The exterior is made entirely of carbon fiber. Designer Dan Durrant didn't just want to copy the original, he refined it. The lines are smoother, the joints are tighter, which was not possible with the original Lotus made of "plastic". The iconic wedge shape is preserved, but with modern details such as LED lights and 17-inch (front) and 18-inch (rear) wheels.
The taillights are a nod to the original, but the engine is now visible under a glass hood, as befits any true supercar. And yes, there's still that cool fuel cap in the C-pillar.
Interior: Where nostalgia meets technology
The interior is a mix of 1970s minimalism and Skyships Automotive technology. You have two screens, a top-of-the-line audio system and – get this – electrical systems that actually work. If you’ve ever driven an old British car, you know that “Lucas, Prince of Darkness” made sure the lights only worked when the moon was full. The Encor has completely redone the electrical system.
One note: If you're over 6'10" (185 cm) tall, you'll have trouble. The cabin is cramped. The car is lower than modern supercars, so it feels like you're sitting on the ground. But who cares about comfort when you're sitting in something this cool?
Conclusion: A gem for the chosen ones
Encor plans to build just 50 examples. Price? Get ready. The base price is around 530,000 EUR. ($570,000), to which you must add the cost of the donor car (Lotus Esprit V8) and taxes.
Is that a lot of money for an “old” Lotus? Absolutely. For that money you get two new Ferraris. But every football player and every crypto-millionaire who was lucky has a Ferrari. The Encor Series 1 is for the connoisseur. For someone who understands that driving is not just about moving from point A to point B, but is a dialogue between man and machine.
This is the car Colin Chapman would build if he had an unlimited budget and access to modern technology. It's fast, it's analog, it's damn beautiful, and most importantly - it's not Porsche 911. And that alone is worth half a million.
