Believed 007's Lotus Esprit Was a Stunt? Even He Lacked a Carbon Fiber Body | Carscoops

      Encor Series 1 is a carbon-bodied tribute powered by a V8, celebrating the original Esprit that debuted 50 years ago.

      A British startup is bringing the iconic Lotus Esprit into the modern era.

      The team utilizes a late 1990s V8 Esprit as a base and adds carbon fiber panels.

      They will produce fifty units, with each priced at $579,000, not including the cost of the V8 donor vehicle.

      This development was inevitable. Classic cars from the 1970s and ’80s, such as the Audi Ur-Quattro, Lancia 037, Ferrari Testarossa, and Porsche 911 Turbo, have been modernized, and Giugiaro's original Lotus Esprit was due for a similar update. Thanks to the startup Encor, this is now happening, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the S1 Esprit.

      Encor takes clear inspiration from the distinctive, angular S1, which gained fame through its memorable mountain chase and underwater scenes in the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. The UK-based firm recreates the car's iconic silhouette using new carbon fiber bodywork and gives the pop-up headlights a contemporary twist with LED technology.

      Modern Framework Under Classic Exterior

      While the aesthetic stays true to the S1, much of the mechanical components are sourced from later Esprit models. Each of the fifty builds will utilize a V8 Esprit, which was produced from 1996 until the model was retired in 2004. Encor explains that the original donor chassis, engine, and gearbox are preserved to maintain “continuity with Lotus heritage,” although they acknowledge the necessity of keeping these parts to maintain original registration and avoid costly homologation procedures.

      The twin-turbo 3.5-liter V8, which was designed by Lotus, features a supercar-style flat-plane crank and delivered 350 hp (355 PS) at its 1996 introduction, compared to the modest 160 hp (162 PS) provided by the 2.2-liter S1 two decades prior. However, Encor assures that the V8s are fully rebuilt and enhanced to offer “greater performance, improved drivability, and increased everyday usability.”

      Interior Redesign

      The S1 Esprit was perceived as futuristic inside during the mid-1970s, featuring a wraparound cockpit. This time, the interior benefits from upgraded materials and technologies, including leather, Alcantara, machined aluminum, Apple CarPlay, climate control, and 360-degree cameras. Anyone who has ever been in or attempted to park an Esprit will appreciate the practicality of the last addition.

      Encor’s skilled team of former Lotus and Aston Martin engineers plans to construct fifty remastered Esprits, each costing approximately £430,000 ($579,000) plus any additional options, taxes, and the price of the donor vehicle. The public will get its first glimpse of the finalized car next month, and there is already speculation about the potential future projects this venture might explore.

      While the company has not specified which models may be featured in upcoming endeavors, it is easy to envision a reimagined Esprit Turbo following the Series 1. Perhaps one could be crafted in vibrant red and gold, reminiscent of the original blown 1980 S2 with Essex Petroleum livery (illustrated in the final images below; the 1990s V8 is depicted in yellow).