The Lamborghini Countach is one of those few names in automotive history that is itself a legend. Young and not so young know him and recognize him. It is the quintessential Lamborghini, a name that was first heard at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show. This is the masterpiece of the great Italian designer Marcelo Gandini, when Gandini worked for Bertone.
The Countach ended up making it to the series in 1973, with the LP 400 Periscopo.
, the first evolution of this supercar with a sharp design that the English baptized as “wedge shape”. The revolution that he introduced was not only stylistic, but also technical.
To begin with, it brought to the street a design that until now had only been seen on the carpet of a car show. The Alfa Romeo Carabo prototype, also created by Marcello Gandini, had been a revolution in 1968. Because of its razor-sharp body line, its retractable headlights and its vertically opening doors. Gandini transferred all these very futuristic elements to the Lamborghini Countach.
On a technical level, Lamborghini opted for the rear longitudinal arrangement of its V12 engine, hence the designation of the LP400 model, for “longitudinal rear” and 400 for the 4-liter capacity of its mechanics. In addition, the gearbox was arranged in front of the engine, practically inside the passenger compartment, between the two occupants. This was intended to achieve an optimal distribution of weights.
The 1973 Periscopo was followed by different evolutions such as the LP 400 S, LP 500 S, LP 5000 S, Quattrovalvole… The latest evolution of the Countach is known as the 25th Anniversary. It celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Lamborghini brand, born in 1963. It was designed by Horacio Pagani and was on sale between 1988 and 1990.
Lamborghini replaced the Countach with the Diablo, then the Murciélago, and finally the Aventador. Now the firm from Sant’Agata Bolognese, taking advantage of the 50th anniversary of the presentation of the original Countach prototype, has created a new Countach. A series limited to 112 units created based on the Sián, a car that in turn also derives from the Aventador.
winks to the past
The design of the new Countach is the work of Mitja Borkert, the German who is in charge of the Centro Stile Lamborghini, the design department of the Italian firm. I understand that this task was extremely difficult since the original model is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful and advanced in terms of design in the entire history of the automobile.
Before seeing it live and direct, with the photographs and videos that I had been able to see on the Internet, I had not finished fitting in. The Countach is Gandini’s masterpiece and Gandini is one of the greatest designers of all time.
However, once you have it in front of you, it improves a lot. The nose is ultra low, in the style of the original Countach, its body is full of straight lines. The headlight clusters are inspired by the original turn signals. Unfortunately, for homologation reasons, it cannot be equipped with retractable headlights.
The wheel arches also look for those trapezoidal shapes of the classic model, very much in the style of the Quattrovalvole. This vitaminized evolution also recovers rims with a five-hole design and a Naca-type air intake on the side.
How could it be otherwise, it resorts to vertically opening doors, doors that ended up receiving the name LSD or Lambo Style Doors, after the original Countach. In the roof there is a recess in the central part that seeks to reproduce the shape of the LP 400 Periscopo, even the shape of the hood also emulates the hood of the latest Countach evolutions.
Now, the part that fits me the least is the taillights. The optics of the Sián suit the Sián very well, with a very futuristic and organic design, it fits perfectly with that model. However, for me the Countach deserved specific rear optics, inspired by the design of the original.
The opening spoiler is another element that can lead to criticism. While it is closed it respects the silhouette of an LP 5000 S, but once opened it does not offer the visual impact that the optional spoiler of those 5000 S of the 80s did.
Of course, this reinterpretation retains that spaceship halo of the original model. Above all, for its straight body lines. It has practically no curves, something that you do find in any modern car. Whichever way you look at it, it’s a sculpture on wheels. But best of all, it is a mobile structure.
The cabin is quite reminiscent of what you find in a Sián, as well as that of an Aventador. It introduces specific graphics on the main screen, as well as on the new touch screen in the center of the dashboard.
Only the most special Lamborghini customers were given the option to purchase the new Countach. This limited series of 112 units was first shown to the public at the Pebble Beach Elegance Contest, but even then all units were already sold.
V12 with 800 hp
Under the large rear hood hides the latest evolution of the 12-cylinder engine with a 60-degree V that came from the drawing board of engineer Maurizio Reggiani. An atmospheric 6.5-liter engine capable of generating 780 hp at 8,500 rpm and 720 Nm at 6,750 rpm. A mechanic with a maximum speed of 8,700 rpm that offers an epic sound. This time it is associated with a hybrid system made up of a supercapacitor and a motor that only weigh 34 kilos and are capable of generating 34 hp and 35 Nm.
According to Lamborghini, the LPI800-4 weighs 1,595 kilos on the scale needle, a fairly contained weight by today’s standards. Not surprisingly, practically the entire vehicle has been created in carbon fiber.
It uses a controlled clutch gearbox, like the one we already know in Aventador. It offers wild reactions, every time you go up a gear it shakes you in the seat with a brutality not seen in other supercars. It is not as fast as the double clutch boxes of other brands, but Lamborghini still bets on it.
It has four-wheel drive, just like the Aventador. In addition, as in the Aventador S, SVJ and Ultimae, the new Countach also has a steering rear axle that helps improve overall stability at all times.
The Countach’s brake system consists of 400mm discs and 6-piston calipers up front. While on the rear axle it uses 380mm discs and 4-piston calipers. A set that rises to the occasion, but that has not been conceived for the circuit.
Despite having the energy recovery system in the hands of the supercapacitor, the response of the brake pedal is what you expect in a car of this caliber. Allowing to modulate the braking with precision.
It declares atomic performance with a top speed of 355 km/h, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and acceleration from 0 to 200 km/h in 8.6 seconds. Of course, the best of all is the howl of its V12 engine.
Some stratospheric records, however, the sensations transmitted by the Countach are also of an interstellar ship. It’s everything wild you’d expect a Lamborghini to be, and more!
In fact, the general reactions of the car are quite similar to what you experience in an Aventador Ultimae. We could say that it is not a car suitable for all audiences, that you have to know what you are dealing with before hitting the road. And have respect for him, a lot of respect, like the bullfighter has for the brave bull. Because things as they are, this Countach is a very brave bull.
In short
Lamborghini has done something difficult. Reinterpret a classic not only of the brand, of the history of the car. Fortunately, thanks to projects like this, the firm from Sant’Agata Bolognese guarantees the continuity of the V12 saga. Right now, the replacement for the Aventador is still in the development phase, a model that, like the new Countach, will resort to a slight hybridization through the supercapacitor system. In addition, the cash that will be obtained from the sale of these 112 Countach units will ostensibly contribute to continuing to have V12 engines in the coming years.
