The S1 Lotus Esprit is among the best-looking vehicles ever penned by human arms, however later fashions simply received slightly… worse. With Lotus refocusing on EVs and SUVs, it appeared like we might by no means get to return to these halcyon days of Giugiaro-designed hard-edged Lotii. Now, although, the similarly-disappointed fans at Encor Design need to revive the S1 Esprit with all the trimmings of recent supercardom — and the V8 engine from the later S4 Esprit.
See, the Encor Collection 1 is a restomod, however not of the S1 Esprit you’d count on. As an alternative, that is truly a full rebody of these later twin-turbo V8 fashions — Encor even requires a V8 automotive as a donor on which to work its magic. That magic features a carbon-fiber monocoque, lowered suspension, a completely redone inside, and sufficient engine work to hit 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Not that you will probably expertise any of these horses, although: Encor is promising to make simply 50 vehicles.
You are about as prone to see one on the road now as you may be as soon as they’re constructed
After all, these are simply goal specs, as Encor has but to construct any of its restomods. The corporate is accepting inquiries from events, although, and it is wanting prefer it’ll be an unique invite. House owners have to ship of their current S4 Esprit V8 — itself typically a $50,000 automotive in response to Deliver A Trailer — in addition to an extra $573,192.15 price of British kilos. The vacations could also be approaching, however should you’re poor sufficient to be studying this website as a substitute of Robb Report you may most likely cross this off your listing.
Bringing again the S1 Esprit with trendy tech is an especially cool endeavor, however it’s unlucky that these will all most likely find yourself locked away in vaults to allow them to be traded between rich recluses with out subjecting them to such hurt as “mileage.” I, for one, hope a few of the people who purchase these truly find yourself utilizing them. It might be neat to see a modernized S1 Esprit out and about.
Encor