IT’S BAAACK! Encor Revives the Iconic Lotus Esprit Sequence 1 with Carbon Fibre and V8 Energy

Almost 4 many years after the unique Lotus Esprit Sequence 1 ceased manufacturing, a workforce of former Lotus engineers from Hethel has breathed new life into the legendary Seventies wedge-shaped sports activities automotive. Chelmsford-based startup Encor has unveiled the Sequence 1, a meticulously reimagined restomod that pairs the basic Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed aesthetics with trendy engineering, together with a full carbon-fibre physique and a potent twin-turbo V8 powertrain.

Encor, based by business veterans together with ex-Lotus Superior Efficiency director Simon Lane and chief engineer Will Ives (additionally co-founder of Skyships Automotive), plans to construct simply 50 examples of this unique machine. Pricing begins at round £430,000 (excluding taxes, choices, and a required donor automotive), positioning it as a high-end fee for discerning collectors.

At its core, the Encor Sequence 1 makes use of a donor Lotus Esprit V8 from the ultimate Sequence 4 period (1996-2004) for its stronger metal spine chassis and three.5-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. The unique fibreglass physique is changed with a light-weight, inflexible carbon-fibre shell crafted by specialists KS Composites. This not solely reduces weight to below 1,200kg however dramatically improves structural integrity, aerodynamics, and rollover safety—addressing longstanding weaknesses of the Seventies authentic, which Ives humorously likened to having “the structural rigidity of a prawn cocktail.”

The V8 is totally rebuilt and upgraded to ship roughly 400bhp and 350lb ft of torque, a major enhance over the inventory unit, paired with trendy electronics for sharper throttle response and on a regular basis drivability. Efficiency is exhilarating: 0-62mph in round 4 seconds and a high pace of 175mph, yielding a power-to-weight ratio of 333bhp per tonne—corresponding to a contemporary Aston Martin Vantage.

Chief engineer Will Ives defined the philosophy: “The transient was to refine the basic analogue driving expertise that made the Sequence 1 Esprit so fashionable within the Seventies and pair it with trendy expertise to make it extra usable in the present day. The automotive has been improved in virtually each means.” The workforce “wished to respect the unique however not be handcuffed by it,” including that “whereas we love the automotive, there was simply a lot alternative to enhance it.”
Design-wise, the outside faithfully recreates the sharp, low-slung Sequence 1 silhouette, with CAD-refined traces, tighter panel gaps, and reimagined slim LED pop-up headlights. Inside, tartan seats, a picket gear knob, and analogue attraction mix with modern touches like a digital instrument cluster, infotainment display, Apple CarPlay, and local weather management—all discreetly built-in to protect the driver-focused ethos.

Encor’s creation celebrates Colin Chapman’s light-weight beliefs whereas elevating the Esprit for the twenty first century. With manufacturing set to start in 2026, this limited-run restomod is poised to turn out to be a contemporary basic, proving the wedge-shaped icon nonetheless turns heads 50 years on.