Geneva 2011: Lotus flashes the black and gold with new racing cars

2011 Lotus Renault GP R31 and Evora GT4 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Picking a color scheme for a race car is usually a straightforward matter, but when Lotus opted to revive the black-and-gold combination of the classic John Player Special livery for its new Formula One car, things got a bit complicated. Not because it was once associated with a tobacco brand, but because of the still-unsettled dispute with the other Lotus team.

The Malaysian outfit at the back of the field originally planned on adopting the black and gold for this season, but opted to stick with its existing green and yellow livery shortly after Lotus Cars assumed part ownership of the newly rechristened Lotus Renault GP team.

The naming rights may still be in dispute, but the livery issue is settled. And Lotus isn't just applying it to the grand prix racer you see here. (Though Renault, incidentally, displayed the team's car from last year in the new livery on its stand, and Pirelli a selection of last year's cars as well, Lotus appears to have brought the new 2011 challenger...or at least a mockup.) The British outfit also brought along an Evora GT4 decked out in the same scheme. And it looks positively dynamite on both cars. But don't take our word for it: check it out for yourself in the high-resolution image gallery below and see for yourself.