Black to the future?

January 31, 2011 by Joe Saward

The Lotus Renault GP team has unveiled the Renault R31 at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo.

The team has announced various new drivers including Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean, along with Jan Charouz, Ho-Pin Tung and Fairuz Fauzy. The team also unveiled new sponsorships from solar power company SunCore and Sibur, the Russian petrochemicals company controlled by Gazprom, which has close links with the Russian government. Gone are HP and the Snoras Bank, which appeared last year on the cars. The sidepods are now covered with branding for GenII, the company that owns the teams, so that is presumably space that can be sold if a big sponsor is to become available. Lotus branding appears as a large roundel on the nose and the word “Lotus” on the read wing, which is going to be very confusing for the TV viewers as the rear wings of Team Lotus feature AirAsia.

“All the hard work over the winter has been focused on delivering a big improvement for 2011,” said team principal Eric Boullier. “The result is a car with more than 92% new parts compared to the R30. But technical innovation isn’t the only key to performance. Since last year, we have reviewed all our internal processes and our overall efficiency has now improved by 15%. That means we should be more competitive than last year, on the track and at the factory.”

Technical Director, James Allison says that “words like ‘aggressive’ and ‘innovative’ are very much in vogue in Formula 1 at the moment, but where the R31 is concerned we feel those adjectives are appropriate. It’s true to say that the car has been designed in an ambitious manner and a quick glance at the layout will confirm that its entire concept differs considerably, not just from last year’s car, but from any car this team has ever produced.”

There was one very weird and discordant note about the launch, which used the slogan “Black to the Future”. This is obviously intended to suggest that Lotus is claiming its Formula 1 past, or something along those lines, but it created other thought processes for slightly older folk as it is a play on words for “Back to the Future”, a movie that came out in 1985 featuring Michael J Fox as a teenager who becomes a time traveller at the wheel of a car that has been converted to travel through time. My first thought when I saw the slogan was incredulity as the time machine in “Back to the Future” was the DeLorean DMC-12. This probably the only positive legacy of the DeLorean Motor Company, the car nowadays being considered an iconic vehicle in movie history. Nonetheless, it is decidedly odd that anyone would want to link Group Lotus and DeLorean given what happened. One can only suppose that those involved do not know the story…

…for those who do not know the story, may I suggest applying to Mr Google…

Posted in F1 Drivers | 105 Comments

105 Responses

on January 31, 2011 at 12:54 Nick in Dubai

Given the large Lada logos on the side, i think i will take to calling the team Lada-Lotus this year.

That Delorian Reference is very Ironic!
on January 31, 2011 at 12:57 Mark Spence

88 miles an hour….
on January 31, 2011 at 12:57 lutbar

BLACK to the Future !
http://www.lotusrenaultgp.com/layout/page-launch-28-01.jpg
- on January 31, 2011 at 13:02 joesaward
  
  Black to the future… yes, but why does one create that connection?
on January 31, 2011 at 12:58 roger coleman

black to the future Joe
- on January 31, 2011 at 13:01 joesaward
  
  Yes, indeed it is, but it is still a weird thing to do…
on January 31, 2011 at 13:01 mdewals

I think the full name should be “Lada and Group Lotus, owned by Proton, proudly spent your taxmoney to sponsor Renault GP, owned by GenII”

With all the money Group Lotus and thus Proton doesn’t have I can only see this ending up badly…..
on January 31, 2011 at 13:02 thewizardweb

Nice to see them pillaging the Lotus history. Classy.

It’s always good to have a get-out plan though, on the car there’s Lotus Renault and Lada. I presume Proton will get signage in Malaysia too. That’ll give them a few options after the court case.
on January 31, 2011 at 13:02 Peter

Are Group Lotus allowed to use the ACBC monogram, I thought that was a ‘Team Lotus’ trade mark in F1?
on January 31, 2011 at 13:04 Elephino

So does the car go back to 1985 when it hits 88mph?
on January 31, 2011 at 13:09 roger coleman

they think they are being clever, and it diverts attention away from any JPS inference
on January 31, 2011 at 13:14 Peter Jones

Oh, FANTASTIC, Joe!

That’s the first real laugh out loud I’ve had today. Total about shooting yourself in the foot!

Time for a cig too I think…
on January 31, 2011 at 13:15 Peter Jones

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot, I mean…
on January 31, 2011 at 13:18 lutbar

Joe,
‘mystery’ of Colin Chapman “death”?
though Chapman lived to this day…

people see what they want to see, but this is just commercial move… special move to US people, Lotus trying be a Hollywood star, simple
- on January 31, 2011 at 13:43 joesaward
  
  Lutbar,
  
  You are talking in riddles… I have no idea what point you are trying to make here.
on January 31, 2011 at 13:18 Peter Jones

“Black to the Future.”

I wanted to give the Group Lotus people some benifit of the doubt, but I have, finally, decided they’re all a bunch of idiots. Harsh, I know, but it’s the only logical conclusion…

I suppose they’re wanting to recreate everything old Lotus, so I suspect we’ll be reading soon that DB will be of to jail pretty soon…
on January 31, 2011 at 13:21 Josh

Yet more piggy backing on the success of others…
on January 31, 2011 at 13:24 Erik

They seem to have a lot of them, any idea who is number1 third driver?
on January 31, 2011 at 13:27 Teaflax

Awful-looking livery. It looks like someone sneezed gold leaf onto the car, then tried to wipe it off, creating those thick smears. The cluelessness of the BttF reference just compounds everything that’s wrong with “Lotus”. If they keep shooting themselves in the foot repeatedly throughout the season, I can’t imagine they be back for more abuse and derision in 2012.
on January 31, 2011 at 13:27 Stephen Stuart

DeLorean is indeed a strange connection to revisit… Where did all the cash go???
on January 31, 2011 at 13:28 Tom

Joe,

I believe the slogan they’re using is actually “BLack to the Future” – I guess it’s a play on the “retro” JPS livery.
- on January 31, 2011 at 13:42 joesaward
  
  Tom,
  
  Yes, but playing on Back to the Future is just as dumb…
on January 31, 2011 at 13:29 Tom

Whoops, I’m too slow…
on January 31, 2011 at 13:30 Tweets that mention Lotus Renault GP launches « Joe Saward's Grand Prix Blog -- Topsy.com

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by George Selmer and All F1 News, Joe Saward. Joe Saward said: Lotus Renault GP launches: http://wp.me/ppB1o-1ow [...]
on January 31, 2011 at 13:38 lutbar

@Nick in Dubai Lada-Lotus ?
in 2010 you called Renault Lada-Renault ?

BTW
RT @sidepodcast: /@Twiger am confused why so many f1 journo’s were outwardly ‘pro-fernandes’ in 2010, yet suddenly are now ‘pro-behar’. what did i miss? …
- on January 31, 2011 at 13:41 joesaward
  
  Lutbar,
  
  A very good question… Why would a bunch of journalists suddenly change their support from one thing to another, for no apparent reason… Hmmm. Well, I haven’t it.
on January 31, 2011 at 13:39 Stuart Gillespie

Roads? Where Lotus Lada Renault is going, they don’t need roads
on January 31, 2011 at 13:41 F-one

OBVIOUSLY Lotus know about the 1985 movie – it’s a good headline.

The DeLorean irony is not lost on me, but who cares.
- on January 31, 2011 at 13:50 joesaward
  
  F-one,
  
  I don’t care… It is just an incredibly odd thing to do…
on January 31, 2011 at 13:41 thewizardweb

Just found another car related name – Rover… (via @ironicF1)

http://yfrog.com/gzmgtkpj

Obviously not the car company, but it’s not on their website and nothing comes up in Google, so who knows…?
on January 31, 2011 at 13:44 mistersquash

Why would they create that connection indeed…..sounds like a bit of a PR own goal to me.

Someone posted here a few weeks ago that they had seen a mock up of a Lotus Renault F1 car sporting a Camel livery. I thought at the time that that was an incredible faux pas (if it were true) and could be seen as accidentally reinforcing the JPS style livery link with tobacco branding.

It all seems amateurish to me.

And what I should be thinking of the big black and gold spread in the Team Lotus Notes heaven alone knows!!!!!

Yours, confused, amused and informed

Gary
on January 31, 2011 at 13:46 F-one

Lutbar, I suggest they’ve switched allegiance because they recognise that Lotus is a company with an exciting, ambitious future led by a team of professionals. While Team Lotus, who did a great job last year, are nonetheless the ones doing the piggy-backing.

Which one is the real Lotus? Ask yourself which one has Chapman’s fingerprints on it.

There’s no Chapman DNA in Tony Fernandes’ team. It’s cheque-book heritage, that’s all.
- on January 31, 2011 at 13:48 joesaward
  
  F-one,
  
  What a lot of rubbish… Chequebook heritage? So what does that make Proton then? Where is the Chapman DNA in pretending to be Ferrari? that is not Chapman DNA at all.
on January 31, 2011 at 13:49 the kitchen cynic

Are they sure they copied the right livery? Looks almost as much like the old Arrows to me…
on January 31, 2011 at 14:05 Cerino Devoti

Joe,

Is it true with RBS gone from F1 Jackie Stewart has a new role this season as an ambassador for the Lotus Renault team and Genii? I find it beneath him to sell himself as a Sports mascot for hire. I would think Jackie could walk the paddock as he pleases because he’s a Grand Champion of the past not because he’s being paid to wear sponsor logos and such. What say you?
- on January 31, 2011 at 15:06 joesaward
  
  Cerino
  
  No idea. I would have thought JYS was smarter than that.
on January 31, 2011 at 14:05 keyhadi

Joe,

How much Tony pay you ?
- on January 31, 2011 at 15:04 joesaward
  
  Keyhadi,
  
  Your remark is very insulting, and libellous. However I am going to explain to you in very simple terms why you should shove such ideas where the sun doesn’t shine and open your brain to other possibilities. Your reaction suggests that you come from a place – wherever that may be – where society is so mired in corruption that you cannot comprehend that a journalist can have an opinion of his own. Well, welcome to the free world! This blog is a place where people can argue a case, based on its merits, rather than what some paymaster tells you to think, so long as they do it in a sensible and polite manner.
  
  I think that Fernandes is being treated very badly by the people at Group Lotus and Proton – and by extension by the Malaysian government. They are trying to shove him out of the way, despite a five-year licence deal to allow him to use the Lotus name in Formula 1. Dany Bahar has admitted as much in an interview to the BBC in which he stated that: “When I arrived with a new management team, we had our own ideas and plans and that’s nobody’s fault, not the shareholders’ and not Mr Fernandes’ fault. We have a crystal clear vision of where we want to go in future”.
  That one sentence says it all. Fernandes did not do anything wrong. He just happened to be where Bahar wanted to be. I would argue that in such a situation Group Lotus should honour the deal and support Fernandes’s team, rather than trying to push it out of the way. Bahar is working with Kevin Kalkhoven in the United States, with Nicolas Todt in GP2… can you explain why he could not have offered a similar deal to Fernandes?
  
  I am utterly convinced, based on conversations I have had with people who know the automotive industry inside-out, that the whole Group Lotus project is utterly unrealistic and flawed and that the day will come – a year or two from now – when this will come back and bite the Malaysian government.
  
  I don’t really care if that happens, I just feel sorry for all the Malaysian taxpayers who are going to have dig deep to pay for Bahar’s unbridled ambition and the short-sightedness and naivety of the Proton management and their supporters. I believe that a mistake has been made and no-one wants to be seen to be responsible for it for fear of losing face…
on January 31, 2011 at 14:23 Peter Jones

Joe,

What’s this about a “Front exhaust blow diffusier” rumour that’s circulation at the moment? Any truth in that??

Peter
- on January 31, 2011 at 15:14 joesaward
  
  Peter Jones
  
  As I have said in another post. The time for technical explanations is when we have seen the cars all in action together and we can start to work out the why and the wherefores. There is no point in speculating before that.
on January 31, 2011 at 14:24 F-one

Joe,

I don’t understand your issue with Proton. They’re not attempting to publicly align their brand with Lotus. It’s a standalone exercise. And do you have an issue with Fiat owning Ferrari?

Lotus aren’t attempting to BE Ferrari. They’re attempting to BEAT Ferrari. Which is exactly what Chapman lived for.
- on January 31, 2011 at 15:12 joesaward
  
  F-one,
  
  Read the other posts and you might understand.
on January 31, 2011 at 14:25 lutbar

Chapman DNA ?
True Team Lotus past away long long time ago, and newer come back!

Joe, sorry, no more riddles… I promise
Regards
- on January 31, 2011 at 15:12 joesaward
  
  lutbar,
  
  One thought: Everyone at Group Lotus is now saying (piously) that Team Lotus should have died with Colin. If that was the case why did the family flog the name off to Peters Collins and Wright for $6 million in 1990? You cannot have it both ways. Either you want the name dead, or you want the cash in the bank. We know where the cash is, now we must decide where the name went…
on January 31, 2011 at 14:32 Karen Terry

How long will the JPS (style) livery last, especially as JPS are taking advantage of it in new advertising, and the Canadian heath authorities want it banned.
on January 31, 2011 at 14:34 Michael C

Well it looked OK from the front in the pre launch stuff!!!!!!!

What a mess – this just gets sillier by the day – still it gives Fernandes something to beat – if the Renault/Behar organisation is a bad as the PR and the livery then he is in with a shout – poor Robert Kubica stuck with this mess
on January 31, 2011 at 14:40 Iain

When did Lotus (of any denomination) last win a GP? was it 1985? Be quite a good promo line if it was…

The black’s going to be fun on telly, indeed silver and gold have proved bad on telly, so the Renaults might just disappear…
on January 31, 2011 at 14:40 Jordi

The DeLorean was built using some Renault pieces. Perhaps this is the relation?
- on January 31, 2011 at 15:09 joesaward
  
  Jordi,
  
  Really?
on January 31, 2011 at 14:51 Herring

Suddenly, with this back to the future reference, everything begins to make sense. Clearly Dany Bahar’s whole crazy Group Lotus business plan is a Marty McFly-esque response to someone (perhaps at Ferrari?) calling him chicken.
on January 31, 2011 at 14:53 tonybcc

All of you slamming livery and team lotusrenault but does anyone noticed that this car looks inovative for example that the exhaust exits are nowhere to be seen ? All you can say that livery is bad or Team lotus is better. Quite frankly, pathetic.
- on January 31, 2011 at 15:08 joesaward
  
  tonybcc,
  
  The engineering team at Renault is very good. However I have learned over the years to wait before praising every new gaffer-dazzler. By the end of next week we will see a pecking order emerging in F1 and then one can look at the technical whys and wherefores. Until that happens I will leave the stage open for those who want to jump on soapboxes and preach about technical things about which many of them know next to nothing.
on January 31, 2011 at 14:57 Neal

As much as this feels like a corporate rebrand compared to the feeling Malaysian team engendered in me that they relaunched the Lotus name back into F1 and hence are the “real” Lotus, for me, I must say….

…. this car looks absolutely fabulous . I love what they’ve done with the old black and gold colour scheme.

All the cars I’ve seen this year seem so much more tightly packaged than last year. The “proper” Lotus launched this morning looked like an engine, gearbox with a long nose attached.
on January 31, 2011 at 15:19 tonybcc

Joe but you have to admit that this is intriguing.http://i.imgur.com/QBrH6.jpg
- on January 31, 2011 at 15:26 joesaward
  
  I am sure we will find out about it in the fullness of time. I just don’t see the point in speculating until the cars have run.
on January 31, 2011 at 15:22 Oradis

The DeLorean DMC-12 used a Renault engine and gearbox. The engine was a 2.8L V6, developed jointly by Peugeot, Renault and Volvo.
- on January 31, 2011 at 15:24 joesaward
  
  Amazing… So it was a Lotus-Renault??
on January 31, 2011 at 15:29 Chris D

I knew the basic delorean story (belfast factory, UK government handout, collapse, fraud trial etc) but didn’t know about the Lotus connection until Joe’s prompting:

http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EHistory/DeLorean.html
on January 31, 2011 at 15:31 Prague Peter

The DeLorean had the Renault V6 engine used in the Renault 30, that was also used by Peugeot and Volvo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeLorean_DMC-12

So, the Delorean iconry does recall a previous project where Renault and Lotus were both involved. Not sure the brand police have thought that through though, when you consider what subsequently happened to Mr Delorean.
on January 31, 2011 at 15:31 Phil E

I think the “Black to the Future” reference may be less towards the movie and more towards the old John Player Special ads of the 1980s which often played on the back/black similarity. Here’s an example:
http://www.old-ads.com/john-player-special-ad

If this is the case, it is particularly ham-fisted as (a) everyone is thinking about the movie and not the old ads and (b) even if people were thinking of the ads, it explicitly links the Lotus team to tobacco advertising which, as has been well reported now, is an illegal thing to do in at least one jurisdiction where racing will occur.
on January 31, 2011 at 15:32 Prague Peter

Ah, Oradis got there first!
on January 31, 2011 at 15:39 Karen Terry

Not even Renault’s drivers believe they driving a Lotus.

Kubica was asked whether it was a dream to drive for ‘Lotus’, his reply was:

“Well, they’re a sponsor.”
on January 31, 2011 at 15:39 the kitchen cynic

I wonder who owns the rights to the DeLorean name…maybe DB would like to call it that instead?

Rightly or wrongly (mainly wrongly) Delorean has a very cool image. I’m particularly fond of Gruf Rhys’ concept album about the whole thing (under the band name ‘neon neon’)
on January 31, 2011 at 15:42 David Hodge

If the engines are anything like the beginning of last season, then I think the film which will spring to mind is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
on January 31, 2011 at 15:52 lutbar

Joe, I don’t care what Bahar says, my memories are far far from him and from Tonny, that’s all.

I never support idea of Malaysian Lotus, whatever they are Team or Group

Yes U right, we all need money, since cigarettes was banned and auto-industry make step back to 70th’s but Lotus was more then just simple team, Lotus create true fight, true racing.

@Michael C poor Robert ? Why ?
Even Group Lotus make some silly moves now he has a big chance for winning, biggest than ever… he make Renault better, and Renault knows that
on January 31, 2011 at 16:00 copydude

Years ago, I worked on a pitch to DeLorean for the advertising.

The scam soon became apparent to us because the numbers didn’t add up. DeLorean was planning production for 10,000 cars. There simply wasn’t room in the luxury sports car market.

The year before the planned launch, established Jaguar, for example, sold just 17 cars in France – one of its better European markets.

The likelihood of Group Lotus selling 8,000 cars – said to be what it needs to be profitable, is as unrealistic today – especially in recession. Even assuming the proposed models are ever built.

It was a great car by the way – Lotus suspension, Grumman aerospace doors, Connolly hide seats and a Renault engine that would fire-up much more easily than any other supercar left at an airport for a couple of weeks.

A bank would have to be as silly as the Northern Ireland Development Board at the time to bankroll Group Lotus. But of course, the whole thing could be another scam.

Yes, a truly ironic parallel.
on January 31, 2011 at 16:00 David Melvin

What a mess.

So if I (Dany) an alleged marketing genius that was paying millions to sponser a Renault and hoping to persuade millions of customers with very little knowledge of F1 that I was actually a Lotus

Why oh why am I allowing Lada to also sponser the car ?

Is this association with Lada really going to help Lotus pass it’s future cars off as Ferrari beaters ? Don’ t think so

Am I not supposed to have a “substantial” shareholding in this team. Have I got no say in what is going on?

One way or another, sooner or later this whole fiasco is going to end very badly for Lotus cars and possibly Renault GP too
on January 31, 2011 at 16:11 Drez

Perhaps Mr Bahar will divert some money to get the old DeLorean test track up to Bernies standards.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/petes_pics/sets/72157604255400148/
on January 31, 2011 at 16:17 Mark J

I’m sorry this whole saga is one sorry mess. Like many I have been following this from the start. As a fan of F1 and Lotus its really disturbing how this whole story has progressed.

With the launch of this car… First of all there are 3 car makers advertised on this race car, which is confusing enough. Then you have it called a Renault sponsored by Lotus and after the conferences today 100% owned by Lopez. Then its livery is in reference to a cigarette sponsor 30 years ago (who are not even sponsoring it), not the traditional green and yellow Lotus would use. I guess this would be because the other Lotus is using it.

Then I read about the news conference today and Lopez saying how honest they have been in this whole branding process. I mean really this comes from a guy who was not trying to spend a single cent last year developing the car, and making stories up about why they needed a cash advance for last season from Ecclestone. I do not believe this is a person involved in racing for real reasons.

Then Bahar getting all this cash and just blowing it on a very ill conceived plan. Simply Bahar, his ego and his money could not except Fernandes running Lotus in F1. It would be his thing, and he could say he could do it. Having someone like Fernandes about who he does not see eye to eye with was never going to work out. Which is a pity because Fernandes did a great job setting the team up last season. Someone is going to loose out here when this naming rights gets resolved. Either way it will make Lotus the company look silly, let alone the people running it. This is what makes this the biggest disappointment and for me today to see both cars launched under a Lotus name really doe not give me a nice feeling at all.
on January 31, 2011 at 16:38 David Brazier

Joe

Re “Fernandes did not do anything wrong. He just happened to be where Bahar wanted to be.” – I would agree Fernandes did nothing wrong but my theory is that it was less to do with Bahar and more to do with a Proton deal with Genii to take some or all of Group Lotus off their hands at some point in the future, in a way that Proton can spin as a vindication of their years of funding Lotus. Genii would naturally want the F1 team they already owned to become the Lotus F1 team, not a competing one, ie Lotus Racing/Team Lotus. Bahar has obviously charmed the Proton management but surely not to the degree of wantonly spurning the “free ride” from LR/TL.
on January 31, 2011 at 16:39 Cerino Devoti

Joe,
The relative intelligence of Jackie Stewart has been one of certified debate in the past. I won’t go there today. It does appear he will hold a role in the Lotus Renault F1 Team.
…Gerard Lopez was quoted during the launch event as saying “Formula One legend Jackie Stewart would be a new partner in the team.”
~source: The Times of India [timesofindia.indiatimes.com]
on January 31, 2011 at 16:45 Chris

Hi Joe,

Its a Renault in my eyes & always will be.

Fernandes / Gascoyne car isn’t a Lotus either is it, really. It was quite reliable come the end of last season.

They are however being royally drive shafted from on high as I see it, lets hope the courts decide the govenment Lotus should pay them $ and they can come back as Team Air Asia and make them look silly.

Im feeling most sorry for Kubica in all of this, although on the flip side he’s probably happy the journalists are seemingly fixated on the whole sponsorship saga giving him quiet time to prepare for the first race.

I did read he had a few choice words about his view on the naming tho. Down to earth as usual. Top bloke.

Sponsors matter in F1 but not between the start & finish flags, thats the bit of F1 I love, all this other stuff gets a bit Snoras after a while.
on January 31, 2011 at 17:00 Zep

I have the connection for you. As mentioned below, the Delorean used a Renault V6 and transaxle (from the 25 I believe). However it seems that it is less well know that it was built on a modified Esprit chassis supplied by……Lotus Cars.

So, someone at Renault found this out and like so many things they tried to nick it. For my pennies worth, I hope Team Lotus stick it to the man, on the track and in court!

Zep
on January 31, 2011 at 17:01 mdewals

Lopez of Renault is apparenly losing it…

on the autosport.com site there is a newsitem where he claims Fernandez only wants to keep on to the name because otherwise he’d lose the TV rights money they earned last year.

Didn’t a certain team stick to their name for the exact same reasons?? and didn’t Lopez run that team???
on January 31, 2011 at 17:08 Zep

Joe,

i have the connection for you.

As some others have pointed out, the Delorean used a Renault V6 and transaxle, but it seems that it is a little less well know that it was built on a modified Espirt chassis, supplie by…….Lotus Cars.

So, some one at Lotus Renault GP has cottoned on and decided to nick a bit from the film too. Nevermind.

For my part I hope Team Lotus stick it to the man on the track (unlikely) and the court room (more likely I hope).

Zep
on January 31, 2011 at 17:13 John (other John)

They are going back in time, to fix a legal anomaly that’s disrupted their space – crime continuum?

As said above, 88mph . . and that’s speeding in the pitlane . . .
on January 31, 2011 at 17:36 David Hodge

Yes, I just read Robert Kubica’s comments and he tells it like it is! Top bloke – I just wish he could get a go in a top car also. Saying his ambition might be to drive for a “Total”. So expect Lewis and Jenson at the McLaren launch to wax lyrical about their Vodafones.

He shoots, he scores! Own goal…
on January 31, 2011 at 17:49 Steven Roy

I am not sure which is odder, Lotus linking themselves to DeLorean or a team in a sport with no testing announcing more test drivers than any team had when testing was unlimited.

Presumably by now someone has explained to Mr Bahar about Fred Bushell’s jail term. I know he says he is not a car guy but presumably someone connected with the team or with Lotus is and could have advised him how inappropriate that slogan was.
- on January 31, 2011 at 18:22 joesaward
  
  The testing point is very amusing
on January 31, 2011 at 18:27 Ash

Wonderful, wonderful. You couldn’t make it up — Bahar _voluntarily_ calling attention to the Delorean fiasco — more historical resonances with the current Group Lotus delusions of grandeur than anywhere else.

They’ll be doing some kind of Bricklin-themed promotion for the Canadian GP next.

Pity the car looks so bloody nice. I don’t like the livery particularly, but the lines of the car are beautiful.

I do find myself wanting a smoke though…
on January 31, 2011 at 18:55 F-one

[F-one,

Read the other posts and you might understand.]

Joe, I have read the other posts and I agree with some things.

1) Group Lotus should not have sold the Team Lotus name if they wanted it buried

2) Group Lotus plainly don’t own the Team Lotus name any more

3) It would have been better to have done a deal with Fernandes, and worked with / inherited the team on good terms

BUT

Point 3 was obviously unworkable as Tony wanted too much money. And I think Gerard Lopez’ comments about TV money being at the heart of this is interesting.

And as for Point 1, it was an entirely different board of directors then. In fact it was a different board of directors when Tony did the licensing deal. As for whether that was terminated legally is up to the courts to decide.

But, I am unswayed by my original notion that Lotus Cars is the REAL Lotus. Chapman may not be around any more, but nor is Enzo Ferrari, and we wouldn’t argue Ferrari is no longer Ferrari, would we?

Lotus is still Lotus, and now thanks to Donato Coco’s sensational new models the company may be great again.

1Malaysia have done a great job thus far, but they are not the real Lotus. They just bought a name, and some green and yellow paint.

Twelve months ago we were criticizing Lotus Racing of grave-digging. What’s changed?
- on January 31, 2011 at 19:43 joesaward
  
  F-one,
  
  You are getting ahead of yourself again. The discussions with Fernandes about money was not an attemtp to negotiate a deal but rather a settlement
on January 31, 2011 at 19:09 David Brazier

To extend my theory (above) into pure fantasy, given that Proton are still attempting to actually raise the funds for Bahar’s Lotus plans, do you think Proton/Lotus have actually paid any cash to Lotus Renault GP for title sponsorship, or could it be part of a larger deal, for Genii to get Proton and/or Group Lotus shares?
on January 31, 2011 at 19:17 John (other John)

Two things popped out at me from the clip – job press elsewhere:

1. Bruno Senna is getting a “programme” from Group/Renault/Mallaya.

Thanks to India!’s post the other day, i got to reading this*:

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2010/2373.html

which, in short, is strike three, and 1.85MM GBP Sterling that FI has to cough up for an earlier “programme” which went south because the team – then Spyker, but notably Colles in person, wanted a whole payment of GBP 6MM up front, and got miffy when he didn’t, for obvious reasons, get it.

2. Lopez confirms Group only bought an option for an unspecified amount of equity in GENII – Renault for an undetermined future time.

so that’s it, for all the utter BS spread during the holiday about about Group making “investments”, and goes to show the gullibility of the press out there, some of whom did an Ostrich when – coincidentally – the ad pages rolled.

I think this is best in small doses, lest we risk a hernia laughing at the story in one go.

*If I forgot to, I’m sorry; thank you India! for your good spotting! Also to Vivek, for top background color.

cheers to all!

– j
on January 31, 2011 at 19:27 VV

Renault’s liveries really leave something to be desired. I didn’t think it could manage to mess up a simple black and gold colour scheme (with hints of red), but, no, they’ve managed it.
on January 31, 2011 at 19:38 Stephan

Look, I agree with most stories, but this is Formula 1, this is what I like about F1, the stories, the egos, the people, when you expect something, you get something different, and Joe and all readers, let’s be honest, that’s what we all like. What a joke, an F1 car with stickers of three manufacturers. What brand are you promoting? I think Ron Dennis and Salim Akrem must be laughing with this. TagMcLaren Marketing Services, they will never make such a mess.

But look Ferrari also has a Tata sticker, and look HRT will also have one.

F1 the never ending story, we love it.
on January 31, 2011 at 20:23 F-one

I know that Joe. I was talking about the attempted settlement.

With respect, and I do mean that – your paddock insight is great – isn’t this crusade you have against Group Lotus less to do with their production ambitions and branding strategy and more to do with the fact that you dislike that fat Canadian fellow?
- on January 31, 2011 at 21:58 joesaward
  
  F-one,
  
  For God’s sake! Have you so little respect for me that you could think such a thing? The fat Canadian (your expression not mine) is not even on the radar. This is about Group Lotus not being straight – and behaving badly with Fernandes. End of story.
on January 31, 2011 at 20:37 John (other John)

Joe,

Yup. If you don’t offer to settle, CPR puts your costs in case, rather than claim. I.e. you pay up for the other side as you go!
(there’s a few ways to cut this, but that’s the essence)

Does not mean it was in good faith. Just neccessary tactics, fluffed into a public, velied, veneer of good faith.

Sorry, i just expanded your pointing out the test arrangements are funny.. but i’ve just wrapped my head around the significance of that case.

The meaning is no longer that the fish rots from the head, it smells insitutionally rotten. No quick surgery. Colles’s hardball negotiations must have had substantial executive support, and tacit understanding of his intentions. I really dislike any team being in a mess like that, whoever they are.

all best from me,

– john
on January 31, 2011 at 20:46 John (other John)

Ouch, really sorry Joe, i’ve been mixing up Force India and The Group Lotus mess.

My excuse is I just see BS, and am imagining it the same evil.

I’m sticking to that excuse

but sorry to whomever i confused, above.

Since I’m drifting a bit, I’d just like to add that John DeLorean was one hell of a good motor executive. The story really hasn’t been touched upon, what happened to him, or Chapman, to get them in that state. Very sad.

all best to all,

– john
on January 31, 2011 at 20:51 Adam

Are flux capacitors illegal in formula 1?
on January 31, 2011 at 20:59 BasCB

The more i think about this going “b(l)ack to the future” and the DeLorean connection the more i get the idea we have a very sad thing going on here.

Just look at all the parralells:
Bahar is a Marketing whizz with a want to prove something (compare DeLorean), who is having a lot of government money thrown at it (Malaysian instead of British for now, but they are pushing the UK for subsidies for investments in infrastructure as well) to make a car with Renault engine which Lotus engineers will do a lot of work on but will never have the agility of the famous Lotus cars for being heavy and bulky.
The break even point for the production of these overpriced (again perfect comparison) is so high (10.000 units then, 8.000 per model now) it is just bound to fail and furthermore keep Lotus from desinging great cars for years to come.

Just compare the total target of McLaren going up from 3000 initial to up to 7.000 but break even coming at about those 3.000 units.

Is Bahar trying to tell us something, lauching because nobody gets the joke, or what?
on January 31, 2011 at 21:01 copydude

Joe wrote:

Quote:

The discussions with Fernandes about money was not an attempt to negotiate a deal but rather a settlement

It’s my impression too that this is the nub of the problem. Fernandes has much to gain – and you can argue that he is entitled to compensation for reviving the brand in F1. David Hunt first offered the Team Lotus rights to Group Lotus, but it was . . . sniffily . . . not taken up.

Bahar, however, only has everything to lose.

Brands are worth money and a good deal of Ferrari’s income comes from merchandising. Bahar worked at Red Bull and Ferrari, so this is not lost on him. As far as Lotus goes, the brand at this time is worth more than the cars. (Which barely exist anyway.)

Brands are huge amounts of money. You have no idea how much money people like Levi Strauss, Gucci . . . even Teflon spend against prosecuting fake products the world over.

I don’t think Bahar or Proton have a hope in hell of making any viable cars. They have no track record, for a start. And competitors like Aston Martin struggle to sell . . . hmmm . . 2 – 3000 units? If that. The new Aston Martin city car is just a re-badged Toyota, which again shows the value of a brand.

People ask about the Chapman’s ‘turnaround’. Well, it just so happens that the Chapman’s need a license from Group Lotus to run their ‘Classic Team Lotus’. So, no surprise there.

Bahar wants to sell licenses, franchises . . . Lotus Renault After Shave and after dinner, black and gold After Eight chocolates.

There won’t be any cars, though, and the Proton factory story will end in tearts.
on January 31, 2011 at 21:49 garuykpdx

I sure appreciate Joe’s work in trying to sort out the truth of all this Lotus mess. I think I got the jist of it but let’s see. It’s Lotus but the car is a Renault R31 and the only logo I can make out it Total (Kubica’s remark was priceless). And we have a long list of drivers, several names of which I am afraid I have never heard before. So with all that cleared up, can now say with certainty, pending the outcome of further litigation, that I can reliably pick out the Lotus teams as follows: The “Green One” and the “Black One.”
on January 31, 2011 at 21:54 garuykpdx

Oh dear! I failed to proofread my post. Here is the corrected one with apologies:

###
I sure appreciate Joe’s work in trying to sort out the truth of all this Lotus mess. I think I got the jist of it but let’s see. It’s Lotus but the car is a Renault R31 and the only logo I can make out is Total (Kubica’s remark was priceless). And we have a long list of drivers, several names of which I am afraid I have never heard before. So with all that cleared up, I can now say with certainty, pending the outcome of further litigation, that I can reliably pick out the Lotus teams as follows: The “Green One” and the “Black One.”
###
on January 31, 2011 at 22:00 F-one

Fair enough Joe, fair enough.
on January 31, 2011 at 22:36 Sam

Wee Jackie is a great man, but given their broad-brush approach I worry that Group Lotus may think they have recruited Jim Clark.

Sam
on January 31, 2011 at 23:00 John (other John)

BasCB,

you’ve a good point there, about marketing whizzes.

Not a lot happened between the war and the 70′s in terms of motor manufacturing, least not in the States. How many cylinders? How many cubic inches? How many fins? Oooh, optional Radio? It was a salesman’s revolution. (DeLorean apparently learned to sell, because his English was bad, a point i’d not noted before)

But DeLorean earned his engineering chops the hard way, tea boy up. You just cannot do that alone, impressario, even if you are a raving genius.

Your point holds.

– john
on January 31, 2011 at 23:04 John (other John)

Sam,

got me on the floor,

sure they didn’t want Jacky Ickx?

thanks man!

– j
on January 31, 2011 at 23:05 elephino

Why didn’t they use ‘Back in Black’? No need to change anything, no references to old movies and you get a song to go with it.
on February 1, 2011 at 01:20 John (other John)

I know we’re all bashing here, and there seems plenty due.

But here’s a sequence as to why, or at least how, even after it all, it is dangerous to leap to the conclusion:

”

Q: So you did recognise that there was a real risk that a court would take the view, on an interim basis, that this intrusion on privacy was not justified?

A: It is a risk all newspapers are faced with these days.

Q: What is the matter with letting the court make the decision? Is that not the way democratic societies work; that one person says it is not an intrusion of privacy and the other says it is? … There is nothing wrong with an impartial judge looking at it is there?

A: No. It happens a lot.

Q: But you were not prepared to risk that on this occasion?

A: On this occasion.”

”

I don’t want to be selective, but if you read further that transcription, a lot of powerful, simple truths get hit home by Eady.

This is why we need to get deeper, and fast, as to what really is going on, lest it be lost in the miasma.

– john
on February 1, 2011 at 07:59 John (other John)

elphino,

because Bon Scott would come back and haunt them for having no style?

– j
on February 1, 2011 at 08:03 John (other John)

elphino,

and because the present band have a very clever licensing deal which would preclude that, but i’m just being boring, and sorry for mixing up the eras.

– j
on February 1, 2011 at 08:59 elephino

John (other John)
Yes, way too boring and sensible

Poltergeist – “We’re blaaaack”
The Terminator – “I’ll be black”
Cars in Black (Men in Black)

That’ll do on this silliness.
on February 2, 2011 at 03:16 John (other John)

Elphino,

Sweet!

Couldn’t pass up this thought, though:

“It’s A Wonderful Life”

one hit wonder fnaw fnaw

thanks again,

– j

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