2026 Encor Design Series 1

• Carbon-fibre remaster of the 1975 Lotus Esprit S1 with modern engineering.

• Rebuilt 3.5-litre twin-turbo V8 targets 400 bhp and sub-1,200 kg kerb weight.

• Limited to 50 individually commissioned cars, priced from £430,000.

Design and Proportions of the Vehicle

The 2026 Encor Design Series 1 arrives as a rare case of a revival handled with restraint. Rather than reinterpret the Lotus Esprit, Encor set out to remaster it, treating the original 1975 form as a piece of industrial heritage. The result, shown in the first studio images, remains unmistakably Esprit: low, crisp, wedge-shaped, with the long horizontal shoulder line that defined the original.

To reach this point, Encor digitally scanned the Esprit S1 and resurfaced the geometry, tightening the highlights and giving the surfaces a degree of precision that 1970s fibreglass tooling could not achieve. The two-piece body mould line is gone, replaced by an uninterrupted autoclaved carbon-fibre shell. Lighting is modernised through ultra-compact LED projectors housed within low-profile pop-up units, preserving the recognisable front graphic. Wheels echo both the early slot-mag pattern and the later Sport 350’s five-spoke design, now forged and billet-machined.

The stance has broadened slightly — a functional move to accommodate contemporary tyres and brake cooling — but the character remains intentionally pure.

Performance and Powertrain Overview

Beneath the carbon skin sits the backbone of an original Lotus Esprit V8 chassis, retained for identity and registration continuity. Encor strips and refinishes the structure, then pairs it with a fully reconstructed 3.5-litre twin-turbo V8. The hardware list is extensive: forged pistons, upgraded injectors, remanufactured turbos, a modern electronic throttle body, new cooling and fuel systems, and a stainless-steel exhaust.

The target figures reflect its upgraded capabilities — around 400 bhp, 350 lb ft, sub-1,200 kg kerb weight, 0–62 mph in four seconds, and a 175 mph top end.

Supporting it is a revised five-speed manual developed with Quaife, featuring a stronger input shaft, revised ratios, a helical limited-slip differential, and a bespoke twin-plate clutch. Suspension components move to Sport 350 specification, brakes come from AP Racing, and hydraulically assisted steering is retained to preserve tactile feedback.

Key Features and Interior Impression

Inside, Encor keeps the Esprit’s most memorable cues intact: the dramatically sloped dash, the wraparound binnacle, the deep-set seating position. Every component, however, has been rebuilt. The standout is a milled-from-solid aluminium instrument cluster wrapped around a modern digital display. The carbon-fibre dashboard “T” houses essential controls, while seats are re-foamed and re-trimmed for period-correct ergonomics with contemporary support.

Skyships discreetly integrates camera, infotainment, and climate control systems to ensure convenience without diluting the analog intent.

Positioning in the Market and Segment Context

Prices start at £430,000 before taxes, options, and the necessary donor Esprit V8. Production is limited to 50 cars, each of which is individually commissioned. Deliveries start in Q2 2026. The project is presented as a cultural preservation endeavor carried out with contemporary engineering depth rather than as a restomod.

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