It was the most iconic automobile of the 1970s and 1980s: the Lamborghini Countach. Pictures of the wedge, which is just 1.07 meters flat, covered the walls of innumerable children’s bedrooms, and the successor to the Miura is still a legend. To commemorate the 50th anniversary, the Italians are releasing a limited edition of 112 units of the Countach as part of the “Few Off” series.
The limited-edition special model features a hybrid powertrain and pays respect to the original, which was introduced to the public fifty years ago. Now that the Countach LPI 800-4 debuted in Germany, we took a closer look at the super sports vehicle!
Lamborghini commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Countach
The Countach, which was created by Bertone designer Marcello Gandini, was unveiled to the public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in 1971. Initially, there were no plans for series production, but popular interest in the futuristic-looking Countach prompted business founder Ferruccio Lamborghini to build a roadworthy prototype.
One year later, it was agreed that the Countach would be produced in series. However, it was not until 1974 that the first client vehicle was delivered, while Lamborghini was also creating the Urraco. What no one suspected at the time: the Countach’s design made it a legend, and it remained in production until 1990 – longer than any other Lamborghini model.
The new model should not be a classic automobile.
The appearance of the Countach LPI 800-4 is naturally at least as important as its performance. Mitja Borkert, Head of Centro Stile (chief designer) at Lamborghini, explains that the first Countach shaped the company’s DNA like no other model. The most challenging aspect of the new edition was imagining what a Countach could lo
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ok like in 2021, as opposed to simply recreating a classic automobile. The outcome is more than satisfactory!
● 4.87 meters long
● 1.14 meters high
● 2.10 meters broad
● Scissor doors
Rims in the “telephone style”
Six-sided wheel arches
No projecting headlamps
Let’s start at the front: the Countach, like all current Lamborghini models, has a sharp front end. In contrast to the Aventador, the front design is more distinct. In homage to the Countach LP500, the super-narrow grille features subtle Countach lettering. There are no beads or edges on the front hood.
The Countach’s pop-up headlights, in which two round lights were concealed within the headlights above the indicators, were not able to be carried over into the modern version. Due to modern safety regulations, it is nearly impossible to homologate a new vehicle with pop-up headlights.
No exception is made for Lamborghinis produced in limited quantities. Therefore, the team around Mitja Borkert opted to mimic the original Countach’s appearance by folding the headlamps inside. The LPI 800-4 is equipped with small headlights and thin daytime running lights.
Event Lamborghini Countach
The new Countach’s front end is more square than the Aventador’s.
The new Countach has a fairly similar profile to the previous model. As with the original Countach, the enormous air inlets behind the doors, the so-called NACA ducts, have been visually extended into the doors. Above that, the tribute has slatted gills evocative of the very early Countach LP500, and they even considered the titular roof window (“Periscopio”) while designing the new Countach. At the touch of a button, the roof’s transparency is replaced by opacity.
Lamborghini used with warranty
Regarding the offers
Obviously, the iconic hexagonal wheel arches and “telephone-style” wheels should also be present. However, the new Countach’s wheels are much bigger, measuring 20 or 21 inches. This may possibly be attributable to the fact that the new version is based on the 2011-present Aventador.
The Italians don’t mention this in the news statement, but when you open the scissor doors, it becomes evident that the V12 flagship’s monocoque is concealed behind the carbon body. That’s a good thing, considering the Countach was the first Lambo vehicle with upward-opening doors in 1974. The range makes the scissor doors a defining characteristic of all V12 Lambos!
The first test of the new Countach’s seats
The spectacle of a Lamborghini’s scissor doors opening is never boring. With a little practice, entering and exiting will be effortless. In the interior’s brilliant red hue, the connection to the Aventador is more than apparent. The Countach is not a roadworthy display vehicle, but the inside is identical to that of the regular model. The only distinctions are nonfunctional fixtures and a big touchscreen inherited from the Sián. Mitja Borkert explains: “We obtain the greatest multimedia from the group, such as Audi’s voice recognition. However, we modify the surfaces so the driver feels like a pilot.”
The Lamborghini Countach is a sports car
The interior is comparable to that of the Aventador. The Sián features a touchscreen as well.
The available space in the Countach is enough for individuals up to 1.85 meters tall; higher drivers may find headroom to be restricted. The Periscopio glass pane lessens the sense that the standard Aventador is a carbon- and Alcantara-lined cavern for its passengers.
A unique feature: the transparent roof may turn opaque at the touch of a button. The Lamborghini’s red leather inside may not be to everyone’s liking, but it is based on early Countach models (such as the Quattrovalvole) and, in conjunction with the white exterior, radiates an authentic 1980s vibe.
The Countach’s 6.5-liter V12 engine is supported by an electric motor
6.5-liter V12 engine with 780 horsepower and 720 lb-ft of torque 48-volt electric motor linked directly to the transmission System output: 814 horsepower 0-100 km/h in 2.80 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 8.6 seconds.
● Top speed: 355 km/h
● Unladen weight: 1595 kilos
● Power-to-weight ratio: 1.95 kilograms/hp
Not just physically, but also technically, the Lamborghini Countach was an absolute milestone when it was introduced. Unlike its predecessor, the Miura, the V12 of the Countach was placed longitudinally, thus the name LP (“Longitudinale Posteriore”).
Initially producing 375 horsepower from a 3.9-liter V12, the most powerful variants LP5000S QV and 25th Anniversary currently produce 455 horsepower from a 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V12. The new Countach is substantially more powerful: the tried-and-true 6.5-liter V12 gives 780 horsepower, as in the new Aventador Ultimate special variant; but, it is also driven by a 48-volt electric motor, which is directly attached to the seven-speed ISR gearbox and produces 34 hp.
The total output is 814 horsepower. The drivetrain is known from the Sián FKP 37, which was restricted to 63 units but its V12 produces 785 horsepower (a total of 819 hp). The Italians cheated slightly with the name LPI 800-4, while the correct designation for the Countach is “LPI 814-4.”
The Lamborghini Countach is a sports car.
The window on the roof is only visible from above
The power-to-weight ratio is far more essential than the designation. Since the body of the 4.87-meter-long, 1.14-meter-tall Countach is composed completely of carbon, despite its complicated technology, the super sports vehicle weighs just 1,595 kg. This results in a power-to-weight ratio of 1.95 kilograms per horsepower. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Countach speeds from 0 to 100 km/h in under 2.8 seconds. 200 km/h takes only 8.6 seconds, and the maximum speed is 355 km/h.
The new Countach is remarkable
The characteristic twelve-pointer transmits 780 horsepower to the four wheels, just as it does in the Aventador Ultimae. With the electric motor, the system output is 814 horsepower. The e-machine is activated precisely when the conventional combustor and naturally aspirated engine combination reaches its limits: during shift pauses or in the lower engine speed range. Before any doubts could arise regarding the performance of the new Countach, the electric motor consistently boosts in between.
Countach Lamborghini LPI 800-4
Despite costing 2,400,000 euros, the Countach is not spared. The development vehicle has now accumulated more than 42,000 kilometers.
In this manner, the sequential gearbox, which is ordinarily so clunky, loses its fearsomeness, and the Countach shifts through the gears with near-harmony. What’s the rest? The chassis is as dull as usual, and the chairs are not exactly conducive to long-distance travel. The final few meters of the Countach left a lasting effect on us, and I’m really contemplating posting a picture of the new model in my workplace.
The new Lamborghini Countach’s basic price is 2.39 million euros.
In terms of color, Lamborghini also establishes a connection to the original. The new Countach is offered in classic hues such as “Impact White,” “Giallo Countach,” and “Medium Green.” If these uniform finishes do not appeal to you, you are free to select from the current color palette. The initial internal designation for the first Countach was “LP112,” which explains why only 112 units were produced.
The first customer vehicles of the Countach LPI 800-4 have already been delivered, and all 112 units are scheduled to be finished by the end of the 2022 calendar year. The unit price must be at least 2,010,000 euros net per unit. In Germany, the basic price of the Countach in 2021 will be 2.39 million euros or around five times that of the similarly restricted Aventador Ultimae. At the time of the 2021 Countach’s formal introduction during Carweek in Pebble Beach, the whole production run had already been sold out. Presumably, Lamborghini could have sold even more Countachs, but exclusivity still reigns supreme. In the upcoming decades, it will be determined whether the new iteration has what it takes to become a poster vehicle.
Simultaneously, Lamborghini is creating a proper memorial for the Countach and an appropriate farewell for the Aventador. A real rolling work of art.