I'm a huge fan of the new livery. I think the red really makes the car stand out. Also a big fan of "Kimi" on the car. Not as noticeable as a few McLarens he piloted. But still cool to see
I can see discrepancies all ready between pics/conceptual pics. No DDRS on the launch pics. There are more. Bring on Jerez
"As launched, the new Lotus E21 looks very similar to last year's E20 but developments will start to emerge when it begins testing next month.
"I'm not surprised by step on the nose - it stops airflow spilling into the area between the front tyre and the chassis, which is sensitive and you want to avoid disrupting it.
"There are bigger downforce-producing turning vanes - curved bodywork - on the bottom of the brake ducts and more at the front of the sidepods, which are reminiscent of those raced by Red Bull and Sauber at the end of last year.
"There is also a hint of Red Bull about the rear bodywork treatment around the exhaust.
"Last year, Red Bull and Sauber had bodywork right back beyond the rear wheels. The exhaust gases stuck to that as the team guided them down to the gap between the floor and wheels to increase downforce. Ferrari and McLaren, by contrast, aimed the gases across a gap.
"Lotus have gone for the Red Bull/Sauber approach. It's not possible to tell from the pictures so far whether they have also followed Red Bull in guiding them through a hole in the floor into the central section of the diffuser."
ZitatLotus E21 launch: Devil in the detail of E21 design By Craig Scarborough and Jonathan Noble Tuesday, January 29th 2013, 11:45 GMT
Lotus E21The Lotus E21 is by no means a radical overhaul of its predecessor, but the small changes that have been made are those that should deliver the greatest return.
Technical director James Allison said at the launch on Monday night that the "devil is in the detail" of the latest car from Enstone, and that appears to be borne out by a deeper look at its design.
While it retains the stepped-nose and pushrod suspension concept of its predecessor - and the front and rear wings shown are not the final 2013 version – changes elsewhere should produce a decent step forward.
The car that was launched did not feature the passive double DRS that the outfit hopes will deliver it a straightline speed advantage in 2013.
On the launch car, the biggest change appears to be in the area of exhausts. The outfit has switched to the style of Coanda ramp and tunnel set-up that Red Bull put to such good effect last year.
This concept should deliver Lotus improved downforce, even if it is at the expense of throttle-sensitive handling and a small loss of power.
Team owner Gerard Lopez made it clear this week that one of the strengths of Lotus was that a culture of racing had been harnessed at Enstone.
Lotus E21"The people here feel pretty good about the team," he said. "There is a special Enstone culture for sure.
"I am not saying they are laidback, but there is a very accepting culture.
"People with differences who handle things in a different way. There is a common denominator though, which is racing."
That focus means there are no fads or radical elements of the E21 for the sake of it.
It is an approach that may not have delivered headline grabbing attention at the launch, but it is the right way for a team that wants to go racing and win.
* AUTOSPORT will bring a full technical analysis of the Lotus E21 by Craig Scarborough later today.
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Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:24 am
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