This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Lotus Esprit, which was first unveiled at the 1975 Paris Motor Show. The initial models featured modest power to move the lightweight car, staying true to Lotus’s tradition, but turbocharged engines were introduced later on. Even twenty years after its debut, the Esprit remained relevant, equipped with a twin-turbocharged V-8. Now, a new company is honouring the Esprit’s milestone with a limited-edition restomod that spares no expense.
The company, Encor, was co-founded by Simon Lane, the former Lotus Director of Advanced Performance. The project also involves several ex-Lotus employees and specialists from renowned brands like Pagani, Koenigsegg, Aston Martin, and Porsche. In a nod to James Bond’s Q-Division, they have assembled a team of automotive experts.
Encor refers to its revamped Esprit as the Series 1, although buyers must supply their own Series 4 Esprit, as these models featured the V-8 engine and only the chassis will be reused for the build.
The new build will feature a full carbon-fibre body inspired by the original wedge-shaped Esprit. The interior will be updated with modern technology, including smartphone connectivity. The classic pop-up headlights will be replaced with LEDs, and the 1970s Lotus build quality will be replaced by modern precision engineering. The twin-turbo 3.5-litre V-8 will be rebuilt to deliver more power.
Reliability is a key focus. Lotus has a reputation for being “Lots of Trouble, Usually Serious,” a joke among owners that reflects the cars’ sometimes fragile nature. The company’s emphasis on lightness and agility has often come at the cost of durability.
If Encor can achieve a restomod on par with Singer’s work on classic Porsches, it could turn this dream into reality. The Esprit’s appearances in James Bond films like The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only made it iconic to a broad audience. A modernised Esprit that is fast and dependable enough to avoid costly breakdowns should attract interest.
However, this exclusivity comes at a high price. Encor is charging $579,000 for its Series 1, not including the cost of the donor car or optional extras.
This price is significantly higher than that of even the best-preserved Series 1 or V-8 Esprits, which typically sell for about one-sixth of that amount. But for those who already own a Singer, the price may seem more reasonable.
Encor plans to produce only 50 Series 1 cars, making them extremely rare. Happy 50th birthday, Lotus Esprit.
Source:https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a68815378/encor-series-1-lotus-esprit-restomod-details/
Source:https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a68815378/encor-series-1-lotus-esprit-restomod-details/
