Lotus Esprit carbon-fiber restomod Is Reborn With 400 HP V8 and $540K Price

The Lotus Esprit, the sharp-edged poster car of the late ’70s, has been reborn for the 21st century. The Lotus Esprit carbon-fiber restomod—dubbed the Encor Series 1—is a ground-up remaster of the original concept, revealed 50 years after that 1975 Paris Motor Show debut. It sticks closely to the spirit of the original car while quietly fixing the issues that time and the original fiberglass body exposed.

The price for this extensive rebuild, which requires a donor Esprit V8, starts at £430,000 (roughly $540,000) before taxes and options. Production is strictly limited to 50 units worldwide.

Encor Lotus Esprit Restomod — Source: Encor

Here is a closer look at the advanced materials and engineering that make this V8 restomod feel as capable as it always looked.

Carbon Fiber and Analog Engineering

Encor began by digitally scanning an original Esprit and replacing the old two-piece fiberglass body with a single, uninterrupted autoclaved carbon-fiber shell. This material switch dramatically reduces weight while increasing rigidity.

Component	Upgrade Detail	Impact on Performance
Bodywork	Full Autoclaved Carbon-Fiber Shell	Replaces heavy fiberglass; targeted curb weight is under 2,650 lbs.
Engine	Rebuilt 3.5L Twin-Turbo V8 (Type 918)	Receives forged internals, uprated turbos, and modern fuel/cooling systems.
Output	400 hp / 350 lb-ft	Allows 0–62 mph in about 4.0 seconds and a top speed near 175 mph.
Transmission	Reworked 5-Speed Manual	Re-engineered by Quaife with a stronger input shaft and a helical limited-slip differential.
Suspension/Brakes	Sport 350 Spec	Upgraded with Bilstein and Eibach components; AP Racing brakes installed.

Crucially, the iconic pop-up headlights stay, now hiding compact LED projectors, and the steering remains hydraulically assisted to preserve the tactile, driver-focused character fundamental to the original Esprit.

The Interior: Modernity Without Gadgetry

The Lotus Esprit carbon-fiber restomod honors the original’s wraparound cockpit layout, complete with tartan seat accents and the dramatically sloped dashboard. However, every element has been rebuilt:

Digital Integration: A floating instrument cluster, machined from a single billet of aluminum, houses a modern digital display. Infotainment and climate systems (including Apple CarPlay and discreet 360-degree cameras) are integrated subtly.
Philosophy: Encor co-founder Simon Lane emphasized: “This car is analog at heart. We wanted to avoid the modern tendency toward gadgetry; therefore, the technology exists to enhance the experience, not to dominate it.”

With the starting price at £430,000 plus the required donor Esprit V8 chassis (a late-model Esprit V8 donor can cost $75,000–$220,000), the Encor Series 1 targets collectors who want a usable, lightweight classic with modern performance and zero need to make excuses for 1970s build quality.

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