Lotus E20 launch – first pictures of Lotus’s 2012 F1 car

2012 F1 cars

February 5, 2012 at 4:12 pm by
123 comments

The Lotus E20, the team’s 2012 F1 challenger, has been revealed today. See the video above for the first images of the car.

The team which competed as Renault in 2011 has changed identities and has an all-new driver line-up for this season.

The E20 will be raced by Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean. Raikkonen will be first to drive the car in testing at Jerez in the coming week.

Lotus were known to have been working on a reactive ride height system for the E20, which they tested on its predecessor in Abu Dhabi last year. However the system was banned by the FIA last month.

Lotus E20 pictures

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123 comments on Lotus E20 launch – first pictures of Lotus’s 2012 F1 car

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  1. Andy said on 5th February 2012, 16:16

    beautiful car. Lotus shows aesthetics and the bump in the nose can come together.

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    damonsmedley (@damonsmedley) said on 5th February 2012, 16:16

    Best looking car so far! Stepped noses don’t have to be ugly, as Force India and now Lotus have shown us. I just hope we get no nonsense surrounding this team this year. I’ve had to forgive them a few times now, but I suppose I can give them another chance! Let’s have a controversy-free season, Lotus!

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      bananarama (@bananarama) said on 5th February 2012, 16:27

      Indeed, it is a very nice looking car.

      I just hope its good on fast tracks so Kimi can do something great at Spa again (wishing for a Kimi, Schumacher, Alonso finish there, that would be one awesome podium).

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    • TheBrav3 said on 5th February 2012, 18:56

      I don’t think any of the cars are ugly this year even if they are not what we would design. I think everyone has a new season sugar rush.

      That being said wth is that attached to the tea tray? obviously it must be an aero device but no other team has one, or no other team has shown they have one yet. Is that even legal? If so why has no one built so heavily under the tub before?

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      Girts (@girts) said on 5th February 2012, 18:57

      I really like your positive attitude, @damonsmedley .

      I have to admit that I’m not too optimistic about Lotus’s ability to avoid further controversies as well as their chances of getting good results in 2012. But I fully agree with you about the look of the car. In my opinion, this is the only 2012 nose (so far) that could be described as ‘sexy’.

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        ivz (@ivz) said on 6th February 2012, 0:57

        Lotus have also produced the best launch video so far! We get a good look at the car, the team, and discussion on design of the car in person.

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          damonsmedley (@damonsmedley) said on 6th February 2012, 8:53

          Their marketing/PR team seems to be really making an effort recently. The official Twitter feed is very personal and they tend to reply to everyone, as well as compose humourous tweets. They’re trying to become the “fun” team that doesn’t take themselves too seriously, in my opinion. And that’s a good thing.

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    UKFan (@) said on 5th February 2012, 16:16

    Cars are getting more and more alike I hope that we wont see this on future years.

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    mattg21 (@mattg21) said on 5th February 2012, 16:17

    Great video with the launch. I think I’m getting used to the noses now. Looks alright…not as nice as the McLaren though.

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      Roger Camp (@rogercamp) said on 5th February 2012, 17:21

      I have the same feeling, I’m getting used to it now. Apart from McLaren, this is the best looking car so far. I hope it’s good enough to give Mercedes and perhaps Ferrari a hard time.

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      BasCB (@bascb) said on 5th February 2012, 20:23

      I think the livery helps mask it as well as the fact that the bulges flow down to the lower front far more regularly than with either the FI and certainly the Caterham.

      Looks quite ok to me.

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  5. UNeedAFinn2Win said on 5th February 2012, 16:18

    Nice..r, I guess.

    Just can’t get behind the team, past few years soured it too much for me.

    But good for Kimi, glad he’s back.

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    Maican Ionut (@ionutf1fanatic) said on 5th February 2012, 16:19

    Beautiful car hope they do well this year :)

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    Fer no.65 (@fer-no65) said on 5th February 2012, 16:22

    Lovely car. The dark paint job does miracles with the car. It’s still not that bad looking anyway!

    Like it!

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    PieLighter (@pielighter) said on 5th February 2012, 16:23

    Stepped nose looks OK on this one.

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    Launch Control (@launch-control) said on 5th February 2012, 16:23

    Kimi smiled !!!! :)

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    SennaNmbr1 (@sennanmbr1) said on 5th February 2012, 16:23

    Paint job helps the nose IMO. Nothing to dissimilar to Force India’s solution though. McLaren still my favourite so far.

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    Paulo (@gamefan) said on 5th February 2012, 16:25

    not a bad looking car. well done.
    now, let’s bring Raikko to the top!

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    Cyclops_PL (@cyclops_pl) said on 5th February 2012, 16:26

    Indeed, in black the stepped nose doesn’t look as bad as in FI or SF. Still not in McLaren’s league in the looks category.

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    • Andy said on 5th February 2012, 16:31

      It’s not only the black paintjob; the step is much more smooth and the fact that the noose in the front is much thicker helps alot. I would certainly not call this a crocodile nose or something like that.

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    robk23 (@robk23) said on 5th February 2012, 16:30

    The Lotus looks very nice actually, the ‘step’ on the nose isn’t very noticeable. The best looking ‘Prost car’ along with the Force India but still not as good as a the McLaren.

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    Steph (@) said on 5th February 2012, 16:31

    Lotus was prettier last year only it was a Renault as the Lotus last year was ugly but not as bad as the Lotus this year which is Caterham wait, I’ve confused myself-what car is this? :P

    I actually don’t like the stepped nose as much on the Lotus as I do the FI but it’s still one of the prettiest cars so far. FI has been my favourite so far though and Mclaren least. I’m still recovering from PTSD after seeing the Ferrari though.

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    Eggry (@eggry) said on 5th February 2012, 16:32

    Rules are rules.

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