Lotus E21 launch

[prisonermonkeys]

No, they're not Grosjean's sponsor. Total have been with the team since 2009 (at least). Since Renault are a French company, Total developed lurbicants specifically for them in the same way that Shell do for Ferrari and Mobil do for McLaren. Since Renault's departure as a manufacturer, the presence of a French driver in the team has helped convince Total to stay - Red Bull have become the de facto Renault works team and also get backing from Total - but because the team uses Renault engines and the Total lubricants are designed specifically for the RS27 series of engine, it's not critical.

 

[Bram Turismo]

My word, that looks ridiculously good!

 

[gorsad]

Doesn't look too different from last years car, apart from the livery which I must say is horrible. The black and gold was classy, but the red just looks tacked on and unfinished.

 

[TextRich]

Yes, Total is sponsoring Grosjean. They said so! Romain has thanked them for their support in the past, that I recall.

The other posters are indeed correct that they also have a business relationship with Renault. They gave Lotus the [extra] money they were planning on paying whomever would hire him.

Not that I'm complaining - I think Romain is a deserving driver. However, Total has too much say with the red color on the livery now.

 

[Bobert power]

I wish they would go back to the metallic gold from 2011. It's like a good JPS throwback.

 

[RTSolvalou]

Well at distance, it's going to look a lot like the Marussia now. That red is tacky and that cream (which started as a dark gold in 2011) seems to have been made lighter again, it's almost white in the available pictures.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

With regards to the livery, I’m liking it more and more the longer I look at it. However, it is still nowhere near perfect – I think more red and less gold would look even better. And the angle and positioning of the CLEAR logo looks ridiculous. I really wish I had some aptitude with graphics programmes, because I’ve got a really good idea for what the livery could look like, but no way of showing it without describing it in detail.

 

[Tzun]

Not sure if posted allready but. Lotus joked about Räikkönens new steering wheel that he had a button to: call mom, mute the teamradio, to get ice-cream, angry birds and opening a gate. Lol.

 

[DemurgicDemon]

Well at distance, it's going to look a lot like the Marussia now. That red is tacky and that cream (which started as a dark gold in 2011) seems to have been made lighter again, it's almost white in the available pictures.

I quite like the livery, although I think that if it had the same shade of gold as used in 2011, it would look even better.

 

[Wardez]

Somebody tried shopping it so it was only black and gold:
http://i.imgur.com/kc5YfW9.jpg

Then I decided to retouch it so it was more flushed out, made the rims more gold as well, then took the yellow out of the tires just for consistency:

Don't really know if I like it... looks cool and dumb at the same time somehow.

 

[Dustone]

I thought they were gonna work with the teams to get the stepped noses gone for this year? I guess that didnt happen

 

[DemurgicDemon]

I thought they were gonna work with the teams to get the stepped noses gone for this year? I guess that didnt happen

Well the FIA gave the teams an option, to cover up the step with a deformable panel. However seeing as such a panel will add weight to the car, and provides no real benefit, it'll probably be a rarity at best.

 

[Samus]

This step nose doesn't look too bad, it's pretty subtle compared to some of last year.

 

[Pupik]

If they add any more red to this car, I will call it a Toleman for the rest of the year.

 

[sumbrownkid]

That front nose is carrying some serious angles. The step nose though is not bad, just needed some smoothing out.

 

[Jamesyboy25]

Somebody tried shopping it so it was only black and gold:
http://i.imgur.com/kc5YfW9.jpg

Then I decided to retouch it so it was more flushed out, made the rims more gold as well, then took the yellow out of the tires just for consistency:

Don't really know if I like it... looks cool and dumb at the same time somehow.

Looks beast

 

[Furinkazen]

Fugly and a step backwards looks wise. Got to perform better than it looks. Won;t be hard to do that though.

 

[Ardius]

Somebody tried shopping it so it was only black and gold:

Then I decided to retouch it so it was more flushed out, made the rims more gold as well, then took the yellow out of the tires just for consistency:

Don't really know if I like it... looks cool and dumb at the same time somehow.

I think this proves the point on the red bits quite nicely 👍.

If the sponsors demand red, then ditch the stupid black/gold because it just doesn't work together.
Black and red would be a good combination. Or at least tone down the gold.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

I think this proves the point on the red bits quite nicely 👍.

If the sponsors demand red, then ditch the stupid black/gold because it just doesn't work together.
Black and red would be a good combination. Or at least tone down the gold.

You see I dont agree, I think the black/gold livery is awesome.

 

[Pupik]

If the sponsors demand red, then ditch the stupid black/gold because it just doesn't work together.
Black and red would be a good combination. Or at least tone down the gold.

Interestingly, Team Lotus ran red cars on a single occasion.

 

[Ardius]

You see I dont agree, I think the black/gold livery is awesome.

I like black and gold. I don't like black, gold and red. Or to be specific, black/gold does not go well with Total-bright red.
Maybe it would work better if it was a scarlet or something but really it just doesn't need 3 colours.

Gold isn't a colour that goes well with more than 1 other colour in my opinion.

 

[Furinkazen]

Red is good with black and gold for highlights...

 

[Ardius]

^Nah, it would look 10 times better without the red....

 

[Furinkazen]

Yes, but point is the red isn't too overbearing on the car, it's just used nicely as a trim highlight.

 

[Ardius]

Gold is the highlight already though.

 

[NFSCARBON1]

Interestingly, Team Lotus ran red cars on a single occasion.

Are you forgetting this livery?

If the sponsors want red do this livery. If they want black do black and gold. If they want green and gold, tell them to go to Caterham

 

[red ice]

i'd go with black and gold ...

 

[Pupik]

Are you forgetting this livery?

If the sponsors want red do this livery. If they want black do black and gold. If they want green and gold, tell them to go to Caterham

Well, all-red was my point, but the red and gold definitely shows they've nearly come full circle.

 

[Bram Turismo]

^Nah, it would look 10 times better without the red....

I'd actually disagree. With the red highlighting, it actually looks like there is anything on the car. The all black and gold version looks, well, kind of really boring.

 

[DemurgicDemon]

It depends on personal taste, so it's not something we're all ever going to agree on. Personally I feel the livery looks great, although I think it would have looked even better with a darker shade of gold.