Bored of 911 Restomods? Meet the Encor Series 1

Encor Series 1

Image Credit: Encore

If you have serious money to spend and find yourself unmoved by yet another Porsche 911 restomod, the Encor Series 1 offers a refreshing alternative. Built on the bones of the Lotus Esprit, this new launch is not about chasing nostalgia blindly. Instead, it rethinks one of the most iconic wedge-shaped sports cars ever made and rebuilds it with modern materials, engineering discipline, and restraint. What you get is something lighter, sharper, and arguably closer to the original Lotus philosophy than anything that came before it.

A Lightweight Supercar With Old-School Intent
At its core, the Encor Series 1 is a mid-engine supercar that takes simplicity seriously. It weighs only a few hundred pounds more than a Mazda Miata, which is remarkable given its performance credentials. Power comes from a twin-turbo, quad-cam, flat-plane-crank V-8 mounted behind you, producing 400 horsepower and driving the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. There are no paddles here, no artificial layers between you and the drivetrain. The car follows the same logic that once defined Lotus: remove weight first, then add strength where it matters.

Reengineering the Esprit From the Ground Up
The process begins with a post-1998 Lotus Esprit V8 donor car. The original glass-reinforced plastic body is removed from the steel backbone chassis and replaced with a one-piece carbon-fiber body developed entirely by Encor. The chassis itself is stripped to bare metal, refinished, and rebuilt. Thanks to galvanization, corrosion is not a concern, which gives Encor a strong foundation to work with.

Suspension components are upgraded to match the specification of the Sport 350, the most focused factory Esprit ever built. New bushings are used throughout, and while many original Lotus parts remain, key weaknesses are addressed. Stronger rear hub carriers replace components known to crack under stress, ensuring the car can handle modern performance demands without compromise.

A Rebuilt V-8 That Finally Delivers Its Potential
The 3.5-liter Lotus V-8 is completely torn down and rebuilt. It receives forged pistons, upgraded injectors, revised turbo internals, a modern electronic throttle body, updated cooling and fuel systems, and a new stainless-steel exhaust. These changes allow the engine to operate more reliably at higher output levels.

The five-speed transaxle, originally sourced from Renault, is also extensively reworked. In collaboration with British transmission specialists, Encor strengthens the input shaft, revises gear ratios, adds a helical limited-slip differential, and fits a twin-plate clutch. This resolves long-standing drivetrain limitations that once forced Lotus to reduce power output, while also making the clutch lighter and more usable in everyday driving.

Respecting Giugiaro Without Being Trapped by It
Design plays a major role in why the Encor Series 1 stands apart from typical restomods. While the shape clearly references the original Giugiaro-penned Esprit, it is not a copy. The carbon-fiber body allows cleaner surfaces, tighter shut lines, and smoother transitions that were not possible with older construction methods.

Key visual cues remain intact: the flat roofline, trapezoidal windshield, subtle Kamm tail, and wedge profile all stay true to the Esprit’s origins. Modern LED lighting replaces dated elements, and the engine is now visible beneath a glass rear panel, echoing early four-cylinder Esprits. Wheel sizes are deliberately restrained to preserve proportions, paired with forged alloys and serious AP Racing brakes.

Lotus Esprit

Image Credit: Encore

Structural Gains You Can’t See but Will Feel
Beyond aesthetics, the new body significantly improves rigidity and safety. Where the original Esprit relied on surprisingly basic materials for fire and impact protection, the Encor Series 1 introduces a double-layer carbon-fiber firewall and an integrated safety cell around the passenger compartment. These changes bring the car closer to modern expectations without diluting its character.

A Retro Cabin With Carefully Chosen Technology
Inside, the Encor Series 1 balances heritage with functionality. The steering wheel design and center console layout recall the original Esprit, but materials and interfaces are fully modern. A digital instrument display sits within a lightweight metal structure, supported by additional screens angled toward you. A portrait-format touchscreen anchors the center console.

Space remains tight, just as it was in the original car. Headroom is limited, and Encor intentionally uses original Lotus seat frames because most modern alternatives sit too high. Still, everyday usability is addressed with air conditioning, premium infotainment, and a fully modern electrical architecture designed to avoid the reliability issues that once plagued older British sports cars.

Performance, Production, and What Comes Next
The prototype you see now is undergoing final testing and suspension tuning. With less weight and more power than the original Esprit V8, performance is expected to exceed already impressive benchmarks, including a projected top speed of 175 mph.

Production is limited to 50 cars over two years, with builds starting in 2026. Left-hand-drive versions will be offered, making it viable for U.S. buyers. Pricing sits around $570,000 before taxes, shipping, and the donor car.

Conclusion
If you are tired of seeing the same classic ideas recycled, the Encor Series 1 feels like a genuine alternative. It respects the past without being frozen by it, delivering a modern interpretation of what a lightweight, driver-focused supercar can be. In a world crowded with familiar restomods, this Esprit-based revival stands out by doing less, better.