LOTUS REVEALS 2011 F1 COLOURS, SIGNS ALESI

Lotus is continuing its mission to confuse the heck out of everyone, revealing the black and gold livery of its new 2011 F1 campaigner at the Autosport show. Except that the new JPS-inspired colours were clothing a 2010-spec Renault F1 car (Lotus having bought out the French giant's F1 team late last year), and the livery was revealed in photoshopped form when Group Lotus formally revealed its deal with Renault and investment firm Genii Capital...

If that wasn't odd enough, Lotus has also announced that it has a new star signing in the form of Jean Alesi - but this move has nothing to do with its F1 project. Instead, Alesi will be an 'ambassador' for the Lotus Type 125 and Exos programme - Lotus's F1-inspired super-exclusive hardcore track car project.

Meanwhile another old F1 hand is getting involved with Lotus, but again not in F1 - Nigel Mansell's sons Leo and Greg are campaigning an Evora GT4 in the Dubai 24-hour race.

Lotus has both the Type 125 and the Evora GT4 on display at the Autosport show alongside its 2010 Renault-dressed-as-a-2011-Lotus, as well as its Indycar, GP2 and GP3 racers, making a total of six different Lotus racers (well, five and a track car)...

Confused yet? We are. Thoroughly.