Lotus will keep Esprit name

In May, Lotus officially confirmed it would build a new mid-engined car for the 2008 or 2009 model year. While the car will occupy the sector vacated by the Lotus Esprit that finished production in 2004 (pictured), the automaker has tried to downplay rumors that the new vehicle would revive the Esprit nameplate. However, Lotus boss Mike Kimberley told the U.K.'s PistonHeads in a recent interview that the car will use the name. The interviewer noted that "the PR man cringed" and reminded Mr. Kimberley that what he meant to say was "the mid-engined sports car."