Encor’s Series 1 Revives A Legend With Craftsmanship, Restraint & A 400-Horsepower V-8
Few shapes in automotive history are as instantly recognizable as the Lotus Esprit, angular, low-slung, impossibly cool, forever imprinted into pop culture as the wedge that could out-slice a supercomputer’s rendering. But in 2025, the Esprit is reborn not by Lotus, but by Encor, a British outfit that has reimagined the car with a philosophy that pairs meticulous engineering with deep respect for the original design. The result is the Encor Series 1, a restomod that feels like an English equivalent of early Singer 911 builds, obsessive, restrained, and startlingly beautiful.
It is also expensive. Pricing begins around $575,000 before the donor car, translating to roughly AED 2.12 million in the GCC before taxes, logistics, or customization. But as any collector in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, or Riyadh will confirm: rarity plus craft equals appetite.
Design Heritage & Modern Carbon Craft
The Series 1 does not shout, and that’s its genius. Encor begins by laser-scanning the original first-generation Esprit, then reshaping it just enough to accommodate modern cooling, suspension geometry, and structural enhancements. The philosophy is unmistakably British: evolve without disturbing the silhouette that made the 1976 Esprit an icon.
The entire body is carbon fiber, rendered with the kind of precision usually reserved for limited-run hypercars. Yet nothing feels excessive. The pop-up headlights remain, now LED-equipped, while the stance is pure analog aggression, sitting on staggered 17- and 18-inch wheels wrapped in real sidewall rather than oversized rubber-band trends.
This Esprit carries an atmosphere of a car built in a workshop where tradition is not nostalgia but discipline.
Powertrain Character & Mechanical Rebirth
Every Series 1 begins with a late-run Esprit V8 donor chassis. It’s the spiritual and mechanical heart of the build, but almost nothing is left untouched. The 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 is comprehensively rebuilt with forged pistons, updated internals, revised turbochargers, and enhanced cooling strategies. Output rises to a healthy 400 HP and 350 LB-FT of torque, a figure that may not shock in 2025, but becomes transformative when paired with a curb weight of just 1180 KG, lighter than a modern Mazda MX-5 RF.
The five-speed manual transmission is reforged into something worthy of a half-million-dollar machine. Encor partners with Quaife to toughen every critical component, ensuring the car not only performs but endures, addressing one of the Esprit’s historical weak points: longevity under spirited use.
With this recipe, the Series 1 doesn’t chase hypercar numbers. Instead, it’s built for sensation, lag, spool, gear engagement, and the old-world conversation between driver & machine.
Chassis Dynamics & Driving Philosophy
Perhaps the most telling detail comes from Encor chief engineer Will Ives, who emphasized a refusal to build a stiff, modern supercar. Instead, the goal was to preserve the Esprit’s delicate balance but give it more compliance, composure, and trust. This is not a McLaren rival; it is an analog time capsule rebuilt with intellect.
The suspension sees modern dampers, geometry revisions, and lightweight structural strengthening, delivering a blend of stability & communication that feels like Chapman’s ethos filtered through 21st-century engineering. Encor’s restoration doesn’t simply upgrade, it refines the Esprit into the car it always had the potential to be.
Cabin Craftsmanship & Period-Correct Soul
Open the door and you’re greeted with a cabin that looks lifted from a sharper, more resolved 1970s dreamscape. Tartan upholstery returns with confidence. Switchgear, surfaces, & materials walk the line between nostalgia and modern craftsmanship. Nothing feels like retro cosplay; everything feels rooted.
The cockpit remains intimate and low, with visibility that’s more fighter jet than GT. The layout retains the original Esprit’s driver focus, but noise insulation, materials, & fitment are all improved without compromising the spirit.
For collectors in the GCC, this interior will resonate deeply: it’s old-school charm made turnkey.
Middle East Pricing & Collector Positioning
The base cost of the Encor Series 1 sits around AED 2.12 million, excluding the donor Esprit, shipping, regional homologation, and bespoke configurations. Given the GCC’s strong appetite for coach-built, limited-run vehicles, seen in the demand for Singer Porsches, Alfaholics GTA-R builds, and Kimera EVO37s, the Series 1 is well positioned to become a boutique collectible in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
In cities like Dubai & Riyadh, where craftsmanship is valued as highly as speed, the Encor Esprit aligns with the rising trend of artisanal, heritage-based restomods that offer emotional resonance beyond raw horsepower.
Final Word
The Encor Series 1 Lotus Esprit isn’t merely a restored classic. It’s a cultural revival, an engineering statement wrapped in one of the most iconic silhouettes ever drawn. It respects the original while reimagining it with technical competence & modern confidence. It weighs little, speaks loudly through mechanical honesty, and drives like a celebration of a time when supercars were beautiful because they were brave.
At over AED 2 million, it’s not for everyone. But the people it is for will understand that cars like this aren’t purchased, they’re curated.
