The $580K Lotus Esprit Restomod Looks Perfect in Person-Just 50 Will Be Built
The carbon fibre-infused Encor Series 1, first revealed late last year, is edging closer to production. And at the 2026 Salon Privé Concours, we finally got to see it in person alongside another Lotus restomod. Based on a donor Lotus Esprit rather than a clean-sheet build, the Series 1 replaces ageing components with modern parts and tech while preserving the character that made the original iconic. With just 50 hand-built units planned and a starting price of around £430,000 ($580,000), this is a rare and expensive reinterpretation of a true classic.
A Tiny Wedge With Pop-Up Headlights
Seeing it up close really highlights just how small the Esprit platform is. Measuring just under 14 feet long, 6 feet wide, and just over 3.5 feet tall, the Series 1 has a footprint that feels bite-sized by modern standards. Yet the presence is anything but.
The original shape, penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, remains intact, complete with pop-up headlights and that signature wedge silhouette. But the old fibreglass body is gone, replaced by a carbon-fibre shell for added rigidity and weight savings. It even sits on 5-spoke wheels that echo the donor car's design, tying the whole look back to its roots. Even among other highlights at the event, like the F1-inspired Nichols N1A, the Encor still drew a crowd.
Old-School Soul in a Modern Package
Rather than chasing extreme numbers, Encor has focused on refining the Esprit's original formula. The rebuilt 3.5-litre twin-turbo V8 produces around 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, sent through an upgraded 5-speed manual gearbox. More importantly, it still sounds like an old V8, retaining that raw, mechanical character.
And with a weight of about 1,200 kg (2,645 lbs), it doesn't need a boatload of power to impress. Encor Design claims a 0-62 mph time of 4 seconds flat and a top speed of 175 mph. The chassis has also been refreshed, with upgraded suspension components, Bilstein dampers, and Eibach springs.
A Restomod That Gets It Right
The example we saw at the Concours was finished in Liquid Silver paint, with a contrasting Encor Ramsay Blue interior. The cabin's layout stays driver-centric, like the original Esprit, but the materials and execution have been upped a notch. Carbon fibre surfaces, high-quality leather, and a dash of wood on the gear stick keep the interior feeling modern, but not soulless. Even the machined aluminium piece that houses a digital display makes it feel contemporary, but not at the expense of its analogue charm.
If Encor Design's goal was to rework the classic Lotus Esprit from top to bottom, they failed. But if they wanted to reimagine it, without disgracing its legacy, they hit the nail on the head. They refined, respected, and modernized the Esprit in a way very few thought was possible.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published April 18, 2026 at 1:28 PM.