Encor’s Reimagined Esprit Series 1 Returns With a 400bhp Twin-Turbo V8

Analog Renaissance - Before performance cars became defined by software layers, adaptive settings, and digital interfaces, driving enthusiasts connected with machines that were raw, mechanical, and wonderfully direct. That era might feel distant now, yet a group of former Hethel engineers has managed to pull its essence into the present through a project that blends homage with reinvention. Their creation, called Encor Series 1, isn’t a revival commissioned by any manufacturer; it’s an independent, deeply informed reinterpretation shaped by people who once lived inside the world that produced the original inspiration.

The Encor Series 1 crafted to pay tribute to the original Lotus Esprit S1. (Picture from: AutoCar in X)

Encor, based in Chelmsford, approached the Series 1 not as a replica but as a chance to reinterpret an iconic 1970s silhouette with the benefit of modern engineering maturity. Chief engineer Will Ives described their mission as honoring the spirit of the first-generation Lotus Esprit—whose design DNA clearly influenced this project—without being restricted by the limitations of the era. It was about translating the emotion of the original into something usable and compelling for today, and that meant improving almost every element while retaining the analogue charm that defined the classic.

The Encor Series 1, isn’t a revival commissioned by any manufacturer; it’s an independent, deeply informed reinterpretation shaped by people who once lived inside the world that produced the original inspiration. (Picture from: AutoCar)

The foundation of the Encor Series 1 comes from the later Esprit Series 4 V8 chassis, chosen for its stronger and more advanced structure. Once the donor car is stripped, its original body is removed entirely and replaced with a bespoke carbonfibre shell crafted to match the clean proportions of the 1970s design. Although visually familiar, the new exterior is executed with a precision impossible in the past: a seamless body replaces the old two-part bonded structure, the signature pop-up headlights return with modern LED projectors that require a smaller rise angle, and retrofuturistic lighting elements—including eight rear daytime-running lights that subtly reference the V8 cylinders—give the car its own identity.

The Encor Series 1 is built on a strengthened and more advanced chassis derived from the later Esprit Series 4 V8. (Picture from: AutoCar)

The engineering transformation underneath is even more dramatic. Instead of the original 2.0-litre four-cylinder used in the 1970s, Encor fitted a rebuilt and upgraded version of the 3.5-litre twin-turbo flat-plane V8 from the later Esprit era. The engine receives new pistons, injectors, and turbochargers, lifting output to 400bhp and 350lb ft. With a wet weight of around 1200kg, the Series 1 delivers a power-to-weight ratio that stands comfortably among modern sports cars. A new electronic throttle body and ECU offer sharper, more precise response without undermining the analogue driving feel the team wanted to preserve.

The Encor Series 1 interior blends modern tech with retro charm by pairing a 10.1-inch display and digital cluster with heritage-inspired tactile details. (Picture from: AutoCar in X)

Even the transmission—originally considered one of the weaker points of the classic platform—underwent a significant reengineering effort. Because packaging constraints made installing a new gearbox nearly impossible, Encor essentially rebuilt the five-speed manual from the inside out, retaining only a handful of original pieces while strengthening key components and adding a limited-slip differential. The result is a drivetrain capable of handling the V8’s increased output. With these updates, the Encor Series 1 reaches 0–62mph in roughly 4.0 seconds and achieves a top speed of around 175mph, figures unimaginable for the car that inspired it. 

The Encor Series 1 delivers an even more dramatic engineering leap by replacing the original 1970s 2.0-litre four-cylinder with a rebuilt and upgraded 3.5-litre twin-turbo flat-plane V8 from the later Esprit era. (Picture from: AutoCar in X)

Beneath the surface, the suspension system, anti-roll bars, and electronics are all new. Yet Encor intentionally refused to tune the Series 1 like a modern supercar. The goal wasn’t stiffness or lap-time bragging rights—it was feel. The original Esprit was widely admired for its steering feedback, and Encor preserved that sensation while giving the chassis the benefit of decades of development. The ride remains compliant, communicative, and unmistakably analogue, only now supported by the kind of structural strength and precision that modern engineering allows. 

The Encor Series 1 delivers an even more dramatic engineering leap by replacing the original 1970s 2.0-litre four-cylinder with a rebuilt and upgraded 3.5-litre twin-turbo flat-plane V8 from the later Esprit era. (Picture from: AutoCar)

Inside, the Series 1 fuses eras with confidence rather than nostalgia. A 10.1-inch infotainment display sits cleanly alongside a unified digital driver’s cluster, while tactile old-school details—such as a wooden gear selector, classic rear-view mirror, and period-influenced controls—anchor the cabin in its heritage. Importantly, Encor addressed the safety shortcomings of the era that inspired the car by integrating a carbonfibre safety cage, something the original platform never offered. This brings the reinterpretation in line with contemporary expectations without compromising its character. 

The Encor Series 1 defines its rear identity with retrofuturistic lighting, including eight distinctive DRLs that subtly reference its V8 layout. (Picture from: AutoCar)

Design lead Dan Durrant, previously responsible for the Lotus Emira’s exterior, noted the unique freedom of working on a shape beloved for its purity but no longer bound by today’s regulatory constraints. Modern supercars often struggle to maintain the low nose height, slim proportions, and tucked underbody that defined 1970s wedge designs. The Encor Series 1, however, could embrace those ideals fully, thanks to the absence of the bulky safety and emissions systems that shape new production vehicles. That freedom allowed the team to refine the form to a level impossible during the car’s original era.

The Encor Series 1 features entirely new suspension, anti-roll bars, and electronics, yet is deliberately tuned not to behave like a modern supercar. (Picture from: AutoCar in X)

Encor plans to produce only 50 examples of the Series 1, each requiring a V8 donor car and priced around £430,000. That limited run reflects not exclusivity for its own sake, but the handcrafted nature of the project—one built by individuals who know the inspiration intimately yet have the independence to reinterpret it on their own terms. | CEDCXwAjuos |

In today’s increasingly digitized automotive landscape, the Encor Series 1 stands apart simply by being deliberate, human, and mechanically expressive. Rather than recreating the past, it reimagines it with clarity, engineering depth, and genuine affection. It brings a lost kind of driving experience back into the modern world—not as a museum piece, but as a living, breathing machine built for those who understand why the original mattered and how its spirit can thrive decades later. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ENCOR.DESIGN | ENCORDESIGN IN X | AUTOCAR | AUTOCAR IN X ]

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