The 1978 Largo: A One-Off Sports Car by Godfred Jensen Lost to Time

Vintage Enigma - The late 1970s were a lively time for automotive experimentation, especially among enthusiasts who preferred building cars with their own hands rather than buying them from a showroom. Within that world of creative engineering, few vehicles are as intriguing—or as elusive—as the yellow sports car known simply as the Largo. Completed around 1978 by Danish builder Godfred Jensen, the car surfaces only through a handful of photographs, yet those images are enough to place it firmly among the most distinctive one-off creations of its era. Without brochures, technical documents, or media coverage, the Largo exists almost entirely as a mystery shaped from fiberglass, imagination, and personal ambition.

The Largo is a unique automotive creation built in 1978 by Danish designer Godfred Jensen, based on the Volkswagen Beetle. (Picture from: Kanaltdk)

What survives visually is striking. The Largo wears a bold yellow finish and features a T-top targa roof, an unusual design choice for independent builders at the time. The twin removable roof panels give the car a playful, open-air personality while still preserving a rigid center bar for structure. Its smooth, flowing body lines and compact sports-car profile evoke the style language of late-70s European custom vehicles, blending the low, clean nose of period sports cars with homebuilt ingenuity. Even without interior photos, the exterior proportions alone suggest a car shaped more by creativity than convention. 

The Largo wheelbase, body proportions, and rear weight balance all hint at Volkswagen origins, even if official confirmation has never surfaced. (Picture from: Kanaltdk)

The foundation beneath that distinctive bodywork is believed to be drawn from the Volkswagen Beetle platform, a favorite among hobbyists throughout Europe during that period. The Beetle’s simple backbone chassis, rear-engine layout, and easily sourced mechanical parts made it a natural starting point for ambitious individuals hoping to create unique personal vehicles. Countless kit cars and homebuilt projects relied on Beetle underpinnings for exactly these reasons, and the Largo fits that pattern both in size and stance. Its wheelbase, body proportions, and rear weight balance all hint at Volkswagen origins, even if official confirmation has never surfaced. 

The Largo wears a bold yellow finish and features a T-top targa roof, an unusual design choice for independent builders at the time. (Picture from: VWNetTet.dk)

Using a Volkswagen platform would have offered Jensen the freedom to shape the Largo’s identity without wrestling with the complexities of designing suspension, drivetrain, or structural components from scratch. Instead, he could focus on the aesthetics and personality of the car, building a low-slung sports machine with a cockpit suited to his vision. The likely pairing of fiberglass body panels with a familiar VW core was a practical approach used by many independent builders of the era, allowing them to achieve ambitious designs with manageable engineering demands.

The Largo's twin removable roof panels give the car a playful, open-air personality while still preserving a rigid center bar for structure (Picture from: VWNetTet.dk)

The Largo was never meant to become a production model, and everything about its story reflects that. It appears to have been a deeply personal project—built by one man, tested on Danish roads, and reportedly used for several years before being sold. Its registration plate, DT 62521, remains the only formal clue to its existence in Denmark’s vehicle records. Without surviving technical paperwork or magazine features, the car slipped through the cracks of automotive history once it changed hands, leaving no confirmed trail of ownership or location.

The Largo smooth, flowing body lines and compact sports-car profile evoke the style language of late-70s European custom vehicles, blending the low, clean nose of period sports cars with homebuilt ingenuity. (Picture from: VWNetTet.dk)

This scarcity of information is part of what makes the Largo such a compelling artifact today. Built in the pre-internet era, its documentation relied entirely on physical photographs, workshop notes, and personal stories—items that can vanish easily if not deliberately preserved. Many one-off vehicles from the 1970s met similar fates: they lived full and enthusiastic lives locally, only to fade into obscurity once the builders moved on to other pursuits or the cars themselves were stored, sold abroad, or dismantled.

The Largo is a unique automotive creation built in 1978 by Danish designer Godfred Jensen, based on the Volkswagen Beetle. (Picture from: VWNetTet.dk)

Yet the Largo endures in the imagination of enthusiasts precisely because so little is known about it. It reflects an era when passion and ingenuity could bring an entirely unique sports car to life in a modest garage. Its bright yellow body, T-top targa layout, and likely Volkswagen underpinnings tell the story of a builder who sought something different—and had the skill and determination to make it real. Whether the Largo still exists today or vanished long ago, its legacy remains a quiet reminder of how powerful individual creativity can be in shaping automotive history. Finally, if any part of this article is inaccurate, incomplete, or if you have additional information about this car, you are warmly encouraged to share it in the comment section below. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KANALT.DK | ALLCARINDEX | CCDISCUSSION | VWNETTET.DK ]

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KIA Marks 80 Years with the Futuristic Vision Meta Turismo Electric Coupe

Flux Horizon - At a moment when the automotive world is pushing hard toward cleaner energy and richer digital experiences, many brands are searching for a way to make mobility feel personal again. Instead of merely moving people from point A to point B, the conversation is shifting toward how a vehicle can shape the moments in between—those brief pauses where design, technology, and emotion meet. It’s within this evolving landscape that KIA introduces something far more symbolic than a concept car. The KIA Vision Meta Turismo steps into the spotlight as a narrative piece, tying together the brand’s past, present, and future with a level of intention that goes beyond aesthetics. 

The KIA Vision Meta Turismo Coupe steps into as a narrative piece, tying together the brand’s past, present, and future with a level of intention that goes beyond aesthetics. (Picture from: RoadAndTrack)

KIA chose a meaningful occasion for this reveal: its 80th anniversary celebration held on December 5, 2025, at KIA Vision Square in Yongin, South Korea. The event served as a reflective space, acknowledging decades of transformation while also presenting a clear declaration of what comes next. Among the retrospectives and commemorations, the Vision Meta Turismo became the undisputed focal point. As an all-electric mid-size coupe, it carries the spirit of the Stinger—KIA’s well-loved sporty model—yet reimagines that legacy for an era shaped by electrification, digital interaction, and immersive onboard environments. 

The KIA Vision Meta Turismo Coupe, an all-electric mid-size vehicle, carries the spirit of the Stinger while reimagining it for a future of electrification, digital interaction, and immersive onboard experiences. (Picture from: KIA_Worldwide in X)

Its design channels KIA’s “Opposites United” philosophy, a principle that blends tension and harmony to create something both futuristic and emotionally engaging. This is immediately evident in the car’s front profile: a shark-nose silhouette punctuated by a dark fascia, sharply drawn headlights, and sleek air intakes that suggest forward motion even when parked. The short hood transitions smoothly into a steeply angled windshield, giving the front end a condensed, athletic posture. It’s an approach that signals confidence, purpose, and modernity. 

The KIA Vision Meta Turismo Coupe channels KIA’s “Opposites United” philosophy, blending tension and harmony to achieve a futuristic yet emotionally engaging design. (Picture from: KIA_Worldwide in X)

The side view deepens that expression with bold sculpting and angular door surfaces that create a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. Flared rear wheel arches emphasize performance roots, while the aerodynamically styled wheels push the vehicle further into sporty territory. A glass roof with geometric texturing adds a surprising architectural touch, elevating the coupe’s silhouette from simply streamlined to artistically intentional. Every contour seems designed to communicate movement, energy, and a certain digital-age sharpness. 

The KIA Vision Meta Turismo Coupe features a glass roof with geometric texturing, elevating its silhouette with contours that convey movement, energy, and digital-age precision. (Picture from: RoadAndTrack)

At the rear, the Meta Turismo adopts a cleaner, more understated look without sacrificing identity. A built-in spoiler extends smoothly from the bodywork, paired with boomerang-shaped taillights that sharpen the overall stance. Meanwhile, a darkened bumper and diffuser anchor the car visually, grounding its futuristic lines with a layer of performance-oriented seriousness. It’s a balance of simplicity and character, avoiding unnecessary drama while still asserting its conceptual nature. 

The KIA Vision Meta Turismo Coupe features a cabin designed as a highly immersive digital space, replacing conventional dashboards with deeper driver–machine interaction. (Picture from: RoadAndTrack)

Inside the cabin, KIA pushes into far more experimental territory. The interior is crafted as a highly immersive digital space, shifting away from conventional dashboards and toward deeper interaction between driver and machine. A key feature is the AR-HUD system—an augmented reality head-up display that uses smart glass to project information so it appears to float above the road. This setup replaces traditional screens with layered visuals that blend seamlessly into the driving experience. Complementing this are a compact rectangular display, a camera system, and a distinctive steering wheel that signals a departure from familiar cockpit layouts. The standout element, however, is the bright yellow driver’s seat equipped with joystick-style controls embedded in the armrest, suggesting a future in which driving, gaming, and intuitive navigation coexist in a unified interface. | FF0ss_fldfY |

Karim Habib, KIA’s Head of Design, emphasized that the Vision Meta Turismo embodies the company’s evolving mission: integrating dynamic mobility with human-centered spaces to create experiences that resonate emotionally as well as functionally. It reflects KIA’s continued commitment to advanced technology and to redefining how people interact with vehicles. As the brand marks eighty years of innovation, this concept doesn’t just celebrate a milestone—it signals a shift in how mobility can feel, look, and connect with modern life. The Meta Turismo stands as a bold reminder that the future of transportation isn’t just electric or intelligent; it’s also deeply, intentionally human. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KIA | ROADANDTRACK | KIA_WORLDWIDE IN X ] 

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Russia’s “Flying Brick”: A 1930s-Style Hot Rod Reborn

Mechanical Mythcraft - There is something irresistibly captivating about machines that seem to leap out of their own era, as though they’ve slipped through a crack in time just to remind us how wildly inventive human imagination can be. In a world where automotive design is increasingly governed by efficiency metrics and software updates, a creation like Russia’s “Flying Brick” feels almost rebellious—an unapologetic celebration of mechanical artistry. What began as a casual sketch on a napkin has evolved into one of the most unusual modern reinterpretations of 1930s hot-rod culture, shaped by two minds who refused to let bold ideas remain merely ideas. 

Russia’s “Flying Brick”—a 1930s-style hot rod custom by Alexander Opanasenko for Sergei Kabargin—known online as ddKaba. (Picture from: TheArsenale)

The Flying Brick is the shared creation of businessman, racing driver, and video blogger Sergei Kabargin—known online as ddKaba—and professional designer Alexander Opanasenko. Their collaboration stretched across seven years, not because of hesitation, but because the vision kept growing more ambitious. Kabargin’s original doodle had the charm of a vintage fever dream, but it needed someone with a sculptor’s intuition and an engineer’s practicality to transform it into a real machine. Opanasenko stepped into that role, crafting a body that marries sharp, retro geometry with a futuristic temperament.  

The Flying Brick hot rod custom, a modern take on 1930s hot-rod culture, uses an aluminum–carbon fiber monocoque that gives it modern stiffness while keeping its weight near 1,200 kilograms. (Picture from: TheArsenale)

Instead of a traditional steel skeleton, they went for a monocoque built from aluminum and carbon fiber. This blend gives the car a structural stiffness worthy of modern performance standards while keeping its weight just around 1,200 kilograms—surprisingly light for something that looks like it could shoulder its way through a brick wall.  

The Flying Brick hot rod custom features an intentionally awkward front bumper that embraces the brutish charm once iconic to early hot rods. (Picture from: AllCarz.ru)

Its exterior doesn’t attempt to hide its personality; instead, it amplifies it. The front bumper is intentionally awkward, leaning into the brutish charm that early hot rods were known for. Superchargers erupt from the hood like mechanical horns, a visual promise that the engine lurking beneath is not meant for polite Sunday drives.  

The Flying Brick hot rod custom showcases oversized, fully exposed exhaust pipes on each side, transforming even its idle into a striking visual spectacle. (Picture from: Drive2ru)

On each side, oversized exhaust pipes sit proudly exposed, turning the simple act of idling into a spectacle. And then, as a counterpoint to all the vintage aggression, the designers added modern touches—most notably the LED headlights that bring a sleek sci-fi crispness to the car’s stern face. The Flying Brick hot rod custom’s cabin is strikingly minimalist and driver-focused, featuring two racing bucket seats, a surrounding roll bar, a straightforward dashboard with racing-style instruments, a sporty steering wheel, and a tall gear lever with essential knobs on the center console.

The Flying Brick hot rod custom has a minimalist, driver-focused cabin with two racing seats, a roll bar, a simple racing-style dashboard, a sporty wheel, and a tall gear lever with essential knobs. (Picture from: AcademeG in Youtube)

Performance-wise, the project left no room for mediocrity. The current prototype, already fully drivable, runs on a supercharged MAST LS7 engine capable of pushing roughly 900 horsepower. For a one-off retro hot rod with the physique of a steel-jawed comic book villain, that kind of power turns the Flying Brick into something far more serious than an art piece. Kabargin has already put it to the test on Russia’s Igora Drive circuit, where it reached 279 km/h—setting a record for that track and hinting that this machine, odd as it looks, can move with startling purpose. 

The Flying Brick hot rod custom, driven by a supercharged MAST LS7 with about 900 horsepower, shows through its immense performance that it was never meant to be just a showpiece. (Picture from: TheArsenale)

Yet it’s not chasing any production goals or attempting to evolve into a commercial model. Kabargin has made it clear: this is a singular car for a singular vision, and it will remain a one-of-one. Its value isn’t measured by rarity alone. The Flying Brick stands as a fascinating example of how modern craftsmanship can breathe life into design philosophies almost a century old. In the 1930s, hot rods were scrappy, personal, built in garages by tinkerers who wanted more speed than mainstream manufacturers could offer.  | QfSDpq-X1TE | m8kdEkSZFaU |

Today, garage culture may be more complex, but the spirit of individualism, experimentation, and mechanical honesty lives on in projects like the Flying Brick, which reinterprets 1930s hot-rod style for a world often dominated by automation. It shows that craftsmanship still matters, a napkin sketch can become a 900-horsepower reality, and imagination combined with engineering can create something truly extraordinary. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DRIVE2.RU | ALLCARZ.RU | THEARSENALE | TWEETCIIIIM IN X | RAINMAKER1973 IN X | QUIRKYRIDES IN X ]

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Lexus Reimagines the LFA Legend as a Next-Generation Electric Supercar

Neo Apex - For many enthusiasts, the evolution of performance cars has always felt like a tug-of-war between tradition and the future. The raw pulse of combustion engines shaped generations of automotive icons, yet today’s world increasingly leans toward silent, electrified mobility. Within that shifting landscape, a rare moment occurs when legacy and innovation intersect in a way that feels natural rather than forced—and that moment arrives in the form of the Lexus LFA Concept, a fully electric vision that rekindles one of Japan’s most revered supercar names. 

The Lexus LFA Concept is a fully electric sports car that carries forward its high-performance DNA while marking a bold transition into the era of electrification. (Picture from: TopGear)

Lexus approaches this new chapter with a level of intentionality that goes far beyond building a fast electric machine. The LFA Concept carries the imprint of Akio Toyoda, the Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, whose long-standing devotion to emotional, human-centered performance has earned him the nickname “Master Driver Morizo.” His belief that sports-car craftsmanship should not fade with time lies at the heart of the project. To preserve that spirit, Toyota draws on the philosophy of “Shikinen Sengu”—a practice rooted in renewing tradition without erasing its soul. The same mindset that once shaped the legendary Toyota 2000GT and the original V10-powered LFA now guides the creation of this new electrified interpretation. 

The Lexus LFA Concept embraces a lightweight all-aluminum frame, a low center of gravity, and refined aerodynamics to deliver a level of precision and agility that proves electrification doesn’t diminish the sharpness of a true driver’s machine. (Picture from: TopGear)

While the name “LFA” once evoked the unforgettable howl of ten cylinders working in harmony, it now represents something more future-bound: a technological showcase shaped by motorsport influence and high-performance engineering. Developed alongside Toyota Gazoo Racing’s GR GT and GR GT3 programs, the concept embraces a lightweight all-aluminum frame that achieves both rigidity and agility. Its low center of gravity and refined aerodynamic form reveal a car engineered for precision rather than spectacle, showing that electrification need not dull the edge of a true driver’s machine. 

The Lexus LFA Concept’s interior applies the ‘Discover Immersion’ philosophy, with a meticulously designed driving position that places the driver deep within the cockpit for a fully connected experience. (Picture from: MotorTrend)

Inside, Lexus emphasizes a principle called “Discover Immersion”—a design intention that prioritizes connection over complexity. The driving position is crafted with meticulous attention, placing the driver deep within the car rather than perched above it. Every element of the cockpit aims to remove barriers between human action and mechanical response. Buttons and switches are shaped to feel instinctive, as if the car were reading the driver’s intent before commands are even fully delivered. This emphasis on unity echoes what made the first LFA memorable, translated here into a clean, modern electric architecture.

The Lexus LFA Concept’s cockpit is designed so every control feels instinctive, removing barriers between driver and machine while translating the original LFA’s unity into a modern electric architecture. (Picture from: TopGear)

Visually, the LFA Concept radiates familiarity while stepping confidently into new territory. Its silhouette preserves the flowing elegance that defined its predecessor—a long, low body that sweeps gracefully from nose to tail. Yet freed from the packaging constraints of an internal-combustion engine, designers were able to exaggerate proportions and craft a more harmonious balance. The result is a coupe that feels sculptural rather than ornamental, a shape that acknowledges its heritage but is clearly tuned for the decades ahead. The flexibility of an EV platform allows the lines to stretch, tighten, and breathe in ways the original LFA never could. 

The Lexus LFA Concept’s EV platform allows its design lines to stretch, tighten, and flow in ways the original LFA could never achieve. (Picture from: MotorTrend)

Though still a concept, Lexus has revealed key dimensions that hint at its presence on the road: a length of 4,690 mm, width of 2,040 mm, and a height of just 1,195 mm, underscored by a 2,725 mm wheelbase. The cabin remains a purposeful two-seat layout—an unmistakable signal that this machine is built for focused driving rather than practicality. Its earlier appearances as the Lexus Sport Concept at Monterey Car Week and the Japan Mobility Show in 2025 have now evolved into a clearer identity, signaling Lexus’s readiness to position it as a symbol of its electric future. 

The Lexus LFA Concept, a coupe that feels sculptural rather than ornamental, a shape that acknowledges its heritage but is clearly tuned for the decades ahead. (Picture from: TopGear)

What makes the LFA Concept compelling today isn’t merely its technology or its striking proportions. It represents a mindset shift within the performance-car world—a reminder that electrification doesn’t require sacrificing emotion. Lexus frames this car not as a replacement for the past but as an extension of it, carrying forward the craftsmanship, audacity, and human touch that once made the first LFA so admired. Where many electric sports cars chase numbers, this one pursues experience. It suggests a future in which sustainability and soulfulness can coexist, offering a vision that feels both modern and deeply rooted in legacy. | sL3lt3tUo1E |

As electrified performance continues to redefine what a sports car can be, the Lexus LFA Concept stands as a bold statement from a brand determined to keep driving passion alive. It embraces the silence of electric propulsion without surrendering the character that once made the LFA a legend, lighting a path for what emotionally engaging electric cars might become in the years ahead. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LEXUS | MOTORTREND | TOPGEAR | EVOMAGAZINE IN X ]

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Honda GRX Concept: An Ultra-Light Sports Vision Shaped by Motorcycle-Inspired Engineering

Hybrid Vanguard - In an era where electrification and lightweight engineering dominate nearly every automotive discussion, it’s easy to overlook a time when hybrid performance still sounded like a distant concept. Long before efficiency became a stylistic statement, Honda explored what a truly modern sports car might look like. That exploration began with the bold and futuristic J-VX of the late 1990s and later evolved into the Honda GRX Hybrid Concept—an ultra-light, compact sports study shaped by a fusion of motorcycle-inspired engineering, motorsport cues, and lessons learned from its forward-thinking predecessor. 

The Honda GRX Concept—an ultra-light, compact sports study shaped by a fusion of motorcycle-inspired engineering, motorsport cues, and lessons learned from its forward-thinking predecessor. (Picture from: CarStylingru)

The origins trace back to 1995 when Honda R&D Americas in California was given a loosely defined but ambitious mission: create a concept that could surpass the Mazda Miata in every meaningful aspect. Rather than developing a predictable competitor, the team produced the J-VX, a Japan-spec coupe built with right-hand controls and a lightweight composite-and-aluminum body. 

The Honda J-VX appeared at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show as a right-hand-drive coupe built from lightweight composite and aluminum, showcasing hybrid tech at a time when it was still rare. (Picture from: TopGear)

When it debuted at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show as part of Honda’s “J-Mover” series, the J-VX stood out not only because hybrid technology was still a novelty but also because its sharp, exotic-like styling—complete with upward-opening doors reminiscent of miniature Italian supercars—felt like a vision from a decade ahead. 

The Honda J-VX Concept, part of Honda’s “J-Mover” lineup, drew attention with its sharp, futuristic lines and upward-opening doors that lent it the character of a miniature exotic. (Picture from: TopGear)

Inside the J-VX, Honda drew heavily from junior formula racers, shaping an interior defined by a wide wraparound windshield that opened up the cockpit and fixed bucket seats molded directly to the occupants to prioritize weight reduction. Even the four-point harnesses featured integrated airbags, underscoring how committed the concept was to exploring new safety ideas within a racing-focused layout. Every element felt deliberately engineered to express lightness, precision, and experimentation. 

The Honda GRX Concept, developed by Honda R&D Americas in California, emerged as a more muscular, American-influenced reinterpretation of its predecessor, the J-VX, infused with motorcycle-derived engineering. (Picture from: FiveAxis)

That same philosophy carried into the GRX years later, though Honda adapted it with a more measured hand. The GRX kept the minimalist, motorsport-inspired atmosphere but relaxed the extremity that made the J-VX feel almost prototype-only, allowing the cabin to become more approachable without losing its performance-oriented character. As a result, the GRX echoed the original concept’s intent while translating it into a form that hinted at broader usability.

The Honda GRX Concept is powered by a 1.5-liter flat-six derived from motorcycle engineering, marking a sharp departure from its predecessor, the J-VX, which relied on early iteration Honda's hybrid technology for its powertrain. (Picture from: FiveAxis)

Under the surface, however, the divergence between the two concepts became far more pronounced. The J-VX paired a one-liter three-cylinder VTEC engine with an early iteration of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system supported by a supercapacitor, creating a featherweight mild hybrid designed to boost performance rather than efficiency. The GRX instead abandoned hybrid experimentation altogether, adopting a 1.5-liter flat-six derived from motorcycle engineering, shifting its identity toward an exploration of cross-disciplinary powertrain synergy rather than the future of electrification.

The Honda GRX Concept retained the minimalist, motorsport-inspired atmosphere but softened the extreme, prototype-like feel of the J-VX, making the cabin more approachable without sacrificing its performance-focused character. (Picture from: FiveAxis)

Despite Honda’s enthusiasm for the J-VX’s advanced hybrid system, the idea of a hybrid sports car was seen as too daring for late-1990s production. The technology was redirected into the first-generation Insight in 1999, which carried the J-VX’s hybrid foundation but not its dramatic form. Years later, the GRX resurfaced in 2006 as a refreshed interpretation—now riding on updated bumpers, revised wheels, and a left-hand-drive layout for the American market—demonstrating that the fundamental idea of a compact, city-friendly sports concept had remained surprisingly relevant. 

The Honda GRX Concept resurfaced in 2006 with updated bumpers, revised wheels, and a left-hand-drive layout for the U.S. market, proving the compact city-friendly sports idea still had clear relevance. (Picture from: FiveAxis)

When the GRX appeared at the North American Auto Show, its design evolution became even clearer. Though still recognizable as a descendant of the J-VX, its proportions and surfaces hinted at the silhouette that would eventually influence the Honda CR-Z. The shift from a hybrid powertrain to a motorcycle-derived flat-six also reframed its character entirely, emphasizing how the concept could evolve beyond its original technical mission while still maintaining its commitment to lightness and driver-focused dynamics. | A9--O_enO9w | 69R8NbqGNSM |

The GRX eventually left the public circuit around 2015, but unlike the J-VX—whose current whereabouts are unclear—it survives today in the American Honda Museum, where it represents Honda’s late-1990s experimentation in compact performance. Placed in context, the J-VX stands as the original hybrid-driven vision, while the GRX reflects a more muscular, American-influenced evolution with motorcycle-derived engineering. Neither concept reached production, yet together they shaped Honda’s early thinking on lightweight sports ideas and hybrid-adjacent innovation, proving how impactful pure experimentation can be. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARSTYLING.RU | FIVEAXIS | SUPERHONDA | HONDA-TECH | SLASHGEAR | TOPGEAR | WIKIPEDIA | DARYL K IN FLICKR ]

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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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