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As evidenced by the return of the Ford Bronco and Ben Affleck's romantic reunion with J.Lo, what's old is new again. Children of the '80s who had a Lamborghini Countach on the wall of their childhood bedroom (so, like, all of you?) will soon have a new ride to use as their smartphone wallpaper because—get this—Lamborghini is bringing back the Countach. I repeat: Lamborghini is bringing back the Countach.
Coming straight from Lamborghini's official social media channels is a teaser video heralding "a new image ready to be hung on a wall" and "a rebirth of a dream." And just so we're sure the new Countach is indeed a supercar and not, y'know, a compact electric crossover or something, Lambo also released a single photo of the new car hidden under a thick sheet, shrouded in what looks like dry ice and Italian secrecy.
The original Countach's style was best described as wedge-like and this right here definitely looks wedge-y. The lack of a big rear wing (for now) tells us this Countach may be more in line with the original, relatively less flamboyant LP400 model from the '70s rather than the '80s shoulder-pad wearing versions. Or perhaps Lambo is merely saving that stuff for the inevitable SV version.
In any case, the photo was accompanied by a news post on Lamborghini's official website with a short caption that reads, "Future is our legacy. And the new Lamborghini Countach is coming. Stay tuned..."
Unfortunately, with this news being quite out of left field, further details are scarce. No one is even really sure if this is poised to be a direct replacement for the aging Aventador or its own thing entirely but we've reached out to Lamborghini to see what else it has to say about it and will update this story if a spokesperson replies with anything good.
Lamborghini posted three more teaser photos of the coming Countach resurrection to its Instagram page. We'll have to let the pictures do most of the talking since we don't have any more information than we did when the first tease dropped a couple of days ago. We get a shot of a nose unlike any other Lamborghini in the current stable. A narrow black grille just inches wide splits the upper and lower section of the front fascia, recalling the area where the original exotic placed its black front bumper and fog lights. The name "Countach" appears on the right side of the coupe, in all lowercase letters just like the original, but stretched and angular befitting the brand's modern design language.
A second shot exposes the engine cover, this a new design based on the clear cover that can be fitted to the Aventador. Three flat hexagon panels, thickly bordered in black, step down from the roof to the tail. Beneath them is the longitudinal and posterior V12 portion of the LPI 800 powertrain. The initialism stands for Longitudinale PosterioreIbrido, and we're still waiting for any information on that last bit, the hybrid. The V12 in the Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 received help from a supercapacitor, but that special edition didn't get official designation as a hybrid. The last car from Sant'Agata to do so was the 2014 Asterion LPI 910-4 concept from the 2014 Paris Motor Show. The Asterion hid a V10 in back for the rear wheels, and two e-motors with a combined 296 horsepower on the front axle powered by a lithium-ion battery. The Sian produces about 785 horsepower, the Countach will deliver about 789, the Aventador S makes 690. So Lamborghini isn't using electricity to chase gaudy numbers. Yet.
The last pic presents the area behind the side window. This is a slightly tighter shot of an image that a site called Lamborghini Specs posted a few days ago, snagged somehow from the automaker's customer-only site, Lamborghini Unica. This reveals a Huracan-like intake treatment, the opening descending from the roof to the rear fenders. Ahead of the intake, a row of slats harks back to Gandini's Countach prototype that arranged a flat row of vents along the fender, just behind the glasshouse. The fender is decorated with a cap that could be the fuel filler or a charging port or something else.
Way back in 1987, Lamborghini worked up a Countach Evoluzione prototype to test new technologies that made their way into the last of the production Countach run and the successor Diablo. This Countach could be doing something similar. The brand has already been taking orders for whatever's coming, so there's an excellent chance it will be sold out by the time it debuts on Sunday, August 15, at Monterey Car Week.
Lamborghini wanted to make a big splash at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance by revealing the Countach LPI 800-4 on August 13. Sadly for the automaker, Worldcoop and Cochespias obtained the first official images and shared them on its Instagram account. All other websites found them and helped spread the news, as we are doing right now as well.
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The images match all the official teasers released so far. They also show how the new generation of the Countach dealt with the lack of pop-up headlights: with very square regular headlights that mimick the effect of the original ones. The shark gills and the taillights also remind us very much of the 1980s supercar, but don’t dare to check its profile: it screams Aventador.
We have already anticipated its full name, production numbers, some technical specs, and possible prices. The 6.5-liter V12 will deliver 800 ps (588 kW), have the same hybrid system present on the Sián FKP 37, and be an all-wheel-drive machine, like most modern Lamborghinis. This is why it will be called LPI 800-4. Only 112 units would be produced, and each may cost about €3 million.
It is advisable to wait for the official presentation to confirm all the data Worldscoop shared a while ago. However, the post there have all been spot on so far, which makes anyone willing to get one of these cars already be looking at their investments to spare the necessary money they’ll need to own one.
Lamborghini is following the same strategy Bugatti started with the Divo, Centodieci, and La Voiture Noire. All of them were based on the Chiron. Despite the new appearance, that did not require a new homologation process, and we would not doubt that the registration documents state that they are a Chiron in the end.
The same should happen with the new Countach. With such limited production numbers, it would probably not pay off to follow all homologation procedures with it. That is probably what allowed Stephan Winkelmann to change his mind about Lamborghini producing a retro design. To be honest, we are still eager to hear what he has to say about that. We will not have to wait for long.
Just 112 of the new Countach are being made and Lamborghini is keen to remind you that this is a Countach, by shape at least. It's got a supercapacitor-augmented powertrain similar to the Sian's, which is cool and all but not a new build and the chassis is pretty much an Aventador with sick detailing. But if you're in the market for a multimillion-dollar, limited edition Lamborghini, "because it looks cool" is as good a reason to pick the new Countach over any of the others.It's got the performance you'd expect, with a zero to 62 mph time of 2.8 seconds and 30-meter braking distance down from that. 802 horsepower gives you plenty to fling around—769 from the V12, a further 33 extra from the electric motor—and there's a horsepower for every 4.3 pounds. That means it weighs 3,516 pounds, which isn't too shabby for a hybrid thanks to the carbon fiber monocoque and weight-saving in the chassis.
Nostalgia sells and Lamborghini knows it. Thus, it was only a matter of time until the Italian brand dusted the white powder off the old Countach nameplate and affixed it to something new, in this case, the 2022 Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4.
No, the reborn Countach is not the formal successor to the Aventador. Instead, it's another limited-run model that traces its roots to Lambo's aging and soon-replaced V-12 supercar—an Aventador with special styling inside and out.
Despite this, the Countach LPI 800-4 is more than just a reworked Aventador. In fact, all signs indicate the new Countach is actually a reworked Lamborghini Sián FKP 37, which itself is more or less a reworked Aventador. The Countach LPI 800-4 may be a bit of a Russian doll, but its connection to the Sián FKP 37 is of particular importance, as, unlike the strictly gas-fed Aventador, the Sián FKP 37 is a gasoline-electric hybrid supercar.
Hybrid Hype
Yes, the Countach LPI 800-4's design inspiration comes from a car that first went on sale in the disco era, but its powertrain embraces thoroughly modern technology. Credit the car's 34-hp electric motor that's mounted directly to the Countach LPI 800-4's seven-speed automated manual gearbox, which itself mates to a rowdy 769 hp 6.5-liter V-12 engine.
While the big naturally aspirated 12-cylinder does much of the work when the Countach's right pedal hits the floorboard, it's still assisted by the little electric motor, which provides torque fill between each cog swap (likely up to 80 mph, as in the Sián FKP 37), and also works with the big bent-12 to net the Countach LPI 800-4 a maximum of 803 horses. Like the 807-hp Sián FKP 37 (the Countach's V-12 is down a few ponies to the Sián's, as Lamborghini seemingly wants to ensure buyers understand where these two cars stand in the pecking order), the Countach LPI 800-4 powers its electric motor by way of a supercapacitor, which holds electricity in a static state as opposed to binding it in a chemical reaction as a battery does.
The benefits of this setup include quicker recharging and a lower weight relative to a battery pack of the same size. At 3,516 pounds, the 803-hp Countach LPI 800-4's dry weight is just 99 pounds greater than that of the recently revealed, 769-hp Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae. As such, the two models both manage to accelerate to 62 mph in a mere 2.8 seconds, per Lamborghini (the Sián FKP 37, meanwhile, hits 62 mph in less than 2.8 seconds, according to Lambo).
Style Statement
Yet, it's the Countach LPI 800-4 that brings an extra dose of style to the tarmac. Not that the Aventador Ultimae (or the Sián FKP 37) lacks looks, it's just that the Countach takes things a step further.
Whereas the original Countach was a styling triumph, a wedge to end all wedges, the new Countach LPI 800-4's design is not quite a home run. It almost looks like a caricature of the earlier car: the NACA-esque side intakes are too big, the body appears comparatively bloated, and the front fascia is a tad too busy compared to that of the original.
Leave the old Countach out of the equation and simply focus on the looks of the new one, though, and … it works. (Well, mostly. We still think the side ducts are a bit much.) The Countach LPI 800-4 is a truly stunning thing that nicely blends styling elements from Lamborghini's past and present into an eye-catching, aggressive road missile.
While this neo-Aventador bears the name Countach, its aesthetic seemingly integrates design details from its namesake and the mid-engine 12-cylinder Lamborghini supercars that succeeded it. We see bits of Diablo, Murcielago, and Sián FKP 37 pockmarked about, particularly in the greenhouse, chunky rear fenders that double as flying buttresses, and the rear fascia and taillights. It's a combination of the past and present, and maybe even the future, of Lamborghini.
This amalgamation of eras is less evident inside of the Countach LPI 800-4, as the cabin maintains a rather strict sense of modernity. Nevertheless, the interior of the Countach LPI 800-4 includes a few noteworthy touches, such as a model-specific 8.4-inch infotainment system and a special "Stile" button that, when pushed, explains the design philosophy of the Countach to those inside the car.
Lamborghini plans to limit production of the Countach LPI 800-4 to 112 units (an ode to the original Countach's internal project name, LP 112), with deliveries due to begin in early 2022. Although the model's pricing remains under wraps, its cost of entry likely comes close to that of the rarer, but mechanically similar, Sián FKP 37 coupe, all 15 of which stickered for $2,640,000 each.
The return of the Lamborghini Countach gave birth to differing reactions in varying degrees. Some were blown away by it, while others aren't exactly sold with the modernized interpretation of the iconic nameplate.
But whichever way you see the Countach, one thing's for sure – it's going to be a rare sighting on the road with only 112 examples to be made, another homage to the original prototype's LP 112 designation.
The limited number of units won't all come in white, though. Lamborghini said that lucky owners have over 30 color options to choose from – a combination of original 1970s Countach heritage colors and contemporary shades. To help you visualize, see the gallery above for some of the designated colors on the new Countach.
Of course, you can get the Countach in yellow, a staple Lamborghini color and the very same hue that the original Countach prototype wore when it was presented in the Geneva Motor Show in 1971.
The Countach is also available in various shades of blue and green, bright or dark, along with numerous versions of Rosso (red) and Viola (violet). But if you're not in for the attention, you can never go wrong with black and other neutral colors.
As seen in the gallery above, Lamborghini offers three interior color options. Buyers can get it in white or just like the press car, you can get in red, with either more or fewer black accents.
The Countach's lengthy press release didn't mention the Lamborghini Ad Personam program, the automaker's customization department at Sant'Agata Bolognese. However, we'd wager the wealthy buyers of this returning nameplate will have this privilege.
The more I look at this car the more I don't like it. I'm admittedly a huge fan of the 80's Countach. While this retro-modern design looks good I'm just not sold on it as true-to-form Countach. I always thought that the Huracan would be a great chassis for a new Countach. The proportions would have worked much better IMO. It would have killed the V12 aspect of the Countach but personally I wouldn't have cared. Also, I wonder why Lamborghini didn't make a modern version of the phone dial wheels from the Countach. That would have helped the side profile look less like an Aventador. I'm trying to like this thing. I guess I'll have to see one in the wild, which at 112 units total I probably never will.
When the Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 debuted earlier this year, reactions were... mixed. Some called it a cynical cash grab, others called it “no way to honor the original.” Now Marcello Gandini, designer of the original LP500 Countach concept, has made his opinion of the revival known — and it’s not exactly kind.
The trouble between Gandini and the Countach LPI 800-4 began with a video interview celebrating the 50th anniversary of the original LP500's debut. Gandini talked with Lamborghini design chief Mitja Borkert about the process behind the original car’s design, the story behind its name, and the ethos of making something wholly unlike any previous Lamborghini — a bit ironic, no?
In the interview, Borkert said the LPI 800-4 was what the Countach “could potentially look like in 2021.” He never told Gandini that it was a concept for a future model, especially one officially bearing the Countach name. Gandini, now having seen the debut of the limited-production car, believes the video may make viewers think he was involved in the LPI 800-4 project — a project he wants no association with. He said as much in a press release:
The press release is contained in screenshots in the linked tweet, transcribed here:
MARCELLO GANDINI
Press Release
Marcello Gandini distances himself from the commercial operations of the Countach LPI 800-4 (“New Countach”)
Turin, 22nd October 2021 —With reference to the recent communication by Automobili Lamborghini regarding the launch of the Countach LPI 800-4, the so-called new Countach, Marcello Gandini distances himself from the project and states that in no way was he ever made aware of this project by Automobili Lamborghini itself. The external public, seeing and reading what has been communicated by Automobili Lamborghini and consequently by the media during recent weeks, may be led into believing that Marcello Gandini was a part of, or was involved with, or the project may have had his blessing. It is therefore appropriate to clarify the facts and reiterate that he did not participate in, nor was he aware of the project in any way.
During Spring 2021, the Lamborghini press office requested a video interview with Marcello Gandini, with the agreed subject of a discussion with Mitja Borkert on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Countach and, as always, it was kindly granted. During the interview, carried out on 15 June 2021 (Link to video on Lamborghini website), Borkert presents to Marcello Gandini a reduced scale model defined as his “personal tribute to Maestro Gandini”, made for himself and as a basis of a celebratory model to be presented at Pebble Beach in August on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Countach.
Neither earlier, nor during the interview was it stated that the car was scheduled for limited series production. With the elegance and kindness that have always distinguished Marcello Gandini, when Mitja Borkert presented the scale model during the interview, the former did smile and acknowledge as would be customary to do so.
The press reports that followed, although, made clear that the interview was not an end in itself as a celebration of the Countach’s 50th anniversary but marked the beginnings of series production and sale of its remake, and seeing the use made of the abovementioned interview, it is important to rectify facts. This rectification is also made necessary in response to the countless requests for clarification received by Marcello Gandini from members of the press and professionals of car design industry in recent weeks.
Thus, Marcello Gandini would like to reaffirm that he had no role in this operation, and as the author and creator of the original design from 1971, would like to clarify that the makeover does not reflect his spirit and his vision. A spirit of innovation and breaking the mould which is in his opinion totally absent in this new design: “I have built my identity as a designer, especially when working on supercars for Lamborghini, on a unique concept: each new model I would work on would be an innovation, a breaker, something completely different from the previous one. Courage, the ability to create a break without sticking to the success of the previous car, the confidence in not wanting to give in to habit were the very essence of my work”, explains Marcello Gandini. “It is clear that markets and marketing itself has changed a lot since then, but as far as I am concerned, to repeat a model of the past, represents in my opinion the negation of the founding principles of my DNA,” he adds.
Marcello Gandini clarifies that he has not participated in and does not approve the project, that he didn’t give his placet. Any assumption that this new Countach is coming out (even if only by way of assent) from Marcello Gandini is untrue.
Cordially, Marcello Gandini
Strong words from Gandini. It’s interesting that much of the video interview focused on Gandini wanting to break the mold set by previous Lamborghini models (he specifically mentions the Miura), but it ends with a car that would become the first-ever reuse of a Lamborghini nameplate.
Gandini doesn’t mention any specific issues he has with the design of the new car, simply the reuse of a nameplate that was made iconic through its novelty. Nothing before really looked like the Countach, save for the Lancia Stratos, and that unique wedge shape has influenced every Lamborghini since. The objections aren’t to the car, they’re to the spirit of the thing — mining the past for ideas more revolutionary than they can design in the present.
Lamborghini has a long and storied history dating back to 1963 when Ferruccio Lamborghini got sick and tired of Ferrari and decided to transition from building tractors to building mega V12-powered supercars. Every five or ten years for the last 35, the company has commemorated the occasion with a special edition. And with the big 6-0 looming next year, CarBuzz has exclusively uncovered the name of the new model to celebrate the anniversary.
Lamborghini filed the trademark application with the European Union Intellectual Property Office for the name "60 Anniversario" and a logo to go along with it. This comes just a few weeks after it filed a trademark for an all-new model named the Revuelto.
The question is, what will the special edition model be?
Over the last 60 years, Lamborghini has produced Anniversario models to celebrate 25, 30, 35, 40, and 50 years of existence. The Anniversario 25 was based on the poster-child Countach, while the 30 and 35 were based on the Diablo in various forms. The 40 was a Murcielago, while the P720-4 50 Anniversario was an Aventador.
By now, you'll have noticed a trend. All of these cars are based on Lamborghini's various halo models throughout the years, and all of them are powered by a naturally-aspirated V12. We should have seen it coming, but we were under the impression that the Aventador Ultimae was the very last of its kind.
But there's another possibility...
The logo for the special edition model shows a pair of horns on the top of the '60'. While the brand is colloquially known as the raging bull by virtue of its logo and its historic reliance on the names of famous fighting bulls for its cars, this could have a deeper meaning.
When the new Lamborghini Countach leaked ahead of its debut in August last year, one of the images that leaked showing its designation and therefore hybrid powertrain and horsepower output used the same horn insignia on the '800' of the LPI 800-4 designation. This isn't a common theme used by the brand, so we're willing to hazard a guess that early next year, we'll be introduced to a new Lamborghini Countach 60 Anniversario. Just 112 Countachs were slated for production, so it remains to be seen whether the new special edition is outside of that number or not.
We could be wrong, however, and Lamborghini could use it on an all-new model like the Revuelto. Should this be a hybrid V12, it would maintain its range-topping status. Lamborghini has been hard at work on development and a test mule was recently caught out in the open. With the final Aventadors having left the line in the form of the Ultimae, the announcement of a new model to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the brand would make quite a statement.
Expect to see the 60 Anniversario name on a lot of things though, as Lamborghini filed under sections 12, 25, and 28. Section 12 covers production cars and everything related to the segment, while sections 25 and 28 cover merchandising. That means a full range of clothing and other memorabilia to celebrate.
The reincarnated Lamborghini Countach was recalled last week for an issue relating to the vehicle’s glass engine cover, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filing said.
Lamborghini received a field notice from an owner in Qatar on October 10, which noted that one of the Countach’s four glass engine cover panels had separated from the supercar while it was on the move, an NHTSA filing said. Those glass panels sit above an electronically-assisted 6.5-liter V-12 engine, which provides a total powertrain output of 803 hp and 557 lb-ft of torque.
This incident prompted Lamborghini to open an investigation, which ultimately determined that an issue with the part’s supplier was to blame. More specifically, Lamborghini concluded that the fault stems from an issue with the supplier’s bonding of the glass panels, which could result in the panels detaching and leaving the car.
The new Countach is capable of reaching 62 mph from a standstill in just 2.8 seconds, before stretching its legs all the way up to 221 mph. Not exactly the sort of speeds you want involved when ill-affixed bodywork is at play.
Lamborgnini was unable to determine whether or not other Countach examples would suffer from the same production fault during its initial investigation. On November 10, Lamborghini’s Product Safety Committee voted to launch a proactive recall for the Countach in every global market. That recall impacts nine owners here in the United States, with dealers expected to receive the recall details on January 9 of 2023. Customers will receive a notice from Lamborghini later that week. Customer cars will be inspected after that, with replacement glass panels being made available if they are required. Every Countach built during October 2022 will already have the issue addressed in Sant'Agata Bolognese.
Owning an exclusive supercar can come with some unique challenges. Thankfully for the Lamborghini faithful, this particular fix should be a straightforward job. If you happen to own one of these things, it’s probably a good idea to leave it in the garage for the time being. Not that you were going to pour on the miles, anyway.
08-10-2021, 10:42 AM
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