We recently got a chance to get up close and personal with the new Theory 1 concept, a car that is heavily inspired by the original Esprit but not an overt tribute.

It projects a totally new design language for the brand moving forward, says design boss Ben Payne, and reflects the desires of a passionate design team as opposed to marketing or product planning. 

In this video, Car Design News editor James McLachlan spoke to Payne about the concept, how it materialised and what it stands for beyond a static work of art.