The Lotus Esprit Is Reborn as a $540,000 Carbon-Fiber Super Restomod

A Bond-Era Icon, Revisited

The Lotus Esprit is at a very specific corner of car culture. It’s the sharp-edged poster car of the late ’70s, the submarine-driving star of James Bond films, and a long-time favorite among eccentric collectors. Values have been increasing for years, and the V8 cars from the late 1990s are already considered the ones to have.

If your idea of the perfect Esprit includes carbon fiber bodywork, a thoroughly rebuilt V8, and zero need to make excuses for build quality, Encor thinks it has the answer. Teased in October, the Encor Series 1 is a ground-up remaster of the original Esprit concept, revealed 50 years after that Paris Motor Show debut. It sticks closely to the spirit of the original car while quietly fixing the things time has exposed.

At one glance, the Encor Series 1 is definitely aimed squarely at buyers who already worship the Esprit shape – though it elevates everything for those who just want it to feel as capable as it always looked, assuming money is no obstacle.

Carbon Fiber, Carefully Applied

Encor began by digitally scanning an original Esprit and refining its surfaces rather than reinventing them. The familiar wedge profile remains, but the old two-piece fiberglass body is replaced by a single autoclaved carbon-fiber shell. The stance is wider to suit modern tires and cooling needs, yet it still reads as unmistakably Esprit from every angle.

Pop-up headlights stay, now hiding compact LED projectors, and the wheels reinterpret classic Lotus designs using modern forged construction. The car looks cleaner rather than flashier, which seems intentional.

Inside, the Esprit’s cockpit layout survives, complete with angled dashboard forms and tartan seat accents. A one-piece billet aluminum instrument binnacle houses a digital display, while modern infotainment and climate systems are integrated discreetly instead of shouting for attention. It’s an interior that leans analog, only using screens where they actually make sense.

V8 Power and a Very Limited Invite

Under the carbon skin is a restored Lotus Esprit V8 chassis, rebuilt and re-engineered rather than replaced. The mid-mounted 3.5-liter twin-turbo V8 gets forged internals, uprated turbos, modern fuel and cooling systems, and a stainless exhaust. Output is quoted at around 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque.

With a target curb weight under 2,650 lbs, Colin Chapman would be proud. Encor estimates 0-62 mph in about four seconds and a top speed near 175 mph. A reworked five-speed manual gearbox with Quaife hardware aims to solve one of the Esprit’s long-standing complaints.

Production is limited to 50 units worldwide. Yes, that’s a very tight circle of Esprit-loving individuals, and that’s because this restomod isn’t cheap at all. Pricing starts at £430,000 (roughly $540,000 at current exchange rates) before taxes, options, and the required donor Esprit V8. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in Q2 2026.