Lamborghini Countach: old school against retrofuturism

Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4: whose automotive appearance belongs to the genre of retrofuturism, is one of the fastest and most technologically advanced hypercars of our time. But the design and the name refer us to the legendary car of the eighties of the last century.


In 1971, the Lamborghini LP112 concept car was presented at the Geneva Motor Show. The new Lambo replaced the outdated Miura, and used a new vision of automotive design by Bertone's Marcello Gandini. The abbreviation "LP" (longiale posteriore) in the model name spoke of the conceptual features of the new Countach, namely the mid-engined layout: the Lamborghini V12 engine was located between the driver's cab and the rear axle of the car. Subsequently, the engine displacement will appear in the title, for example, a four-liter modification was called LP400, with a five-liter LP500 engine. The only exception was the 5.2-liter variant, equipped with four valves per cylinder and Bosch fuel injection. This modification was called LP5000 Quattrovalvole. 

Countach LPI 800-4

During the reincarnation of the legendary model, the V12 engine was also used, but, unlike the ancestor, the modern version is supplemented with a hybrid component. Moreover, the “hybrid” uses not the usual lithium-ion batteries, but supercapacitors, thus the Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 provides the future owner not only with the “hardcore” roar of the classic V12, but also with advanced technologies developed for the Sián model. 

The Lamborghini power plant produces 814 hp. (in the title this number is rounded up to 800): while the gasoline power unit develops 780 horses, and another 34 hp. With. brings an electric motor. Thanks to such power, the Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 gives the owner impressive dynamic performance! The hybrid architecture developed by Lamborghini for the Sián (lightning) model is the only "mild hybrid" technology that offers a direct connection between the electric motor and the wheels and is powered by supercapacitors. The latter are able to store three times the capacity compared to lithium-ion batteries of the same weight.

To accelerate to 100 km / h, this hypercar takes 2,8 seconds, and to a speed of 200 km / h, the Countach LPI 800-4 can accelerate in 8,6 seconds - faster than the vast majority of cars reach the 355 mark! The maximum speed is just as impressive, reaching XNUMX km/h.

Name

The name Countach means "surprise" in the Piedmontese dialect and is pronounced "kuntas" - and is one of the rare cases where the name of a Lamborghini car is not related to bullfighting. According to legend, when Ferruccio Lamborghini was shown the first prototype, he exclaimed "Countach!", which is used in Piedmontese Italian to describe an attractive woman.



But in fact, according to Marcello Gandini, this name appeared earlier, and rather even as a joke. While working on the concept, one of the members of the group, a native of Piedmont, who does not speak Italian well, constantly expressed his attitude to the design of the new Lamborghini with the word "countach!": That is, amazement and admiration at the same time. Marcello Gandini liked this expression, and especially its context, so the Maestro asked the New Zealander Bob Wallace, who worked with him, how this word is perceived by the Anglo-Saxons? He replied that for native English speakers the word countach sounds strange, but rather unusual. In fact, after that, the name for the Lamborghini LP112 was approved.



As is often the case in the art world, and automotive design is precisely art, the Countach became a role model both during the assembly line life of the car, as we can remember, for example, Wector W12, and after the end:
“The first Countach is on display in our Centro Stile as a reference model,” says Mitya Borkert, Head of Centro Stile Lamborghini. Every time I look at it, I get goosebumps, and it serves as a reminder to me and the design team that every future Lamborghini must have the same futuristic appearance. This appearance is part of our DNA, our essence, if you will.

Heart

The twelve-cylinder engine for this model is as legendary as it is mandatory. The most powerful variant of the original Lamborghini Countach was the 5.2 liter 48 valve version mentioned above. This V12 developed the power of 455 horses, at 7000 rpm, for the eighties - for the eyes! For example, the Ferrari Testarossa had a maximum of 390 "prancing horses" under the hood.



In the original Countach, the engine was mounted longitudinally behind the cab, and was fitted with prominent side radiators, in the style of a Formula One car. The gearbox was installed in front of the engine - between the driver and the passenger, and the power structure of the body is made in the form of a spatial tubular frame, on top of which they "dressed" the same steel body. At the same time, the designers managed to keep the mass of the car at a low level: in various modifications, the Countach weighed from 1 to 1100 kilograms. 



Of course, a significant role in such impressive weight parameters belongs to the small size of this car. So, in length, 4140 mm, Lamborghini barely exceeded the size of the usual Zhiguli (4073 mm.)! The body of the new Countach is a composite monocoque, giving maximum torsional rigidity at the lowest possible weight. Exterior body panels are made of carbon fiber: that is, for this car, Lamborghini has developed and used the most advanced technology available today.



The layout of the retro-futuristic model repeats the original: the V12 engine is mounted longitudinally in front of the rear axle, power is taken from the front of the crankshaft ...

Guillotine doors (scissors)

The main highlight of Countach, its business card, are guillotine-type doors. Called "scissors", they are preserved on the new model. Thus, continuity was preserved: from the first Countach, to subsequent models with V12 engines:

• ✅Diablo
  
• ✅Murcielago
  
• ✅ Aventador
  
• ✅Cian
  

Lamborghini has remained committed to this unusual design. But despite such impressive performance and appearance, Lamborghini fans reacted coolly to the resuscitation of the old name. It is believed that you cannot enter the same river twice: the Italians from Sant'Agata Bolognese did not succeed either. Even though all 112 copies, valued at $2.5 million, sold on pre-order in the early days, the firm's management decided that the Countach 2 would not have a following in the factory's future lineup. 

After all, the new “delightful” did not cause amazement, except perhaps for the price.