Lamborghini is responsible for some of the most outrageous cars to ever exist, such as the Miura, Countach, and latterly the Huracan and the Sian. Founded back in 1963, Lamborghini has gone on to rival Ferrari when it comes to Italian supercars and creates some of the most mesmerizing machines on the planet. One of the most popular Lamborghini models of all time has to be the Countach, an icon of the 1970s and early 1980s and one of the most desirable Lamborghini’s ever created.
There is some good news as well for those of us who hanker after an all-new version of the car. After more than 50 years since the first Countach emerged off the production line, Lamborghini has now confirmed that they are bringing back the Countach name for an all-new supercar. It is certainly going to be quite different from what has come before it, but it is something that will no doubt be exceedingly popular with those who love Lamborghini and love the Countach itself.
The Original Countach
Given the popularity that the original Countach still holds to this day, it perhaps isn’t surprising that Lamborghini has decided to revive the name after being dormant since the 1970s. The Countach was conceived as a succession model to the Miura, a car that was universally loved when it entered the scene in 1966 but by the 1970s, cars such as the Ferrari Daytona were starting to show the Miura’s age. Lamborghini had to think of something else to keep up with the competition. The new car was initially dubbed LP112 in the project name, with the aim to create a car that was aerodynamically efficient but also one that was incredibly daring in the way that it looked.
The first Countach was shown off to the public in 1971 to much acclaim at the Geneva Motor Show, and the company then spent three years updating and redesigning the car to form the production LP400 Countach. As expected, Lamborghini designed the Countach around their V12 engine, with a rear mid-engine and rear-wheel-drive layout for the car and it displaced around 440 hp at its peak. When it came to the styling, this was done by Marcello Gandini of Bertone, and he and the team really went to town on the car. It was an incredibly angular-looking design and the Countach also became the first production car in the world to feature scissor doors.
Other Versions Of The Countach
Of course, no supercar is complete without some extra editions, and the Countach was certainly no exception. In 1978 the LP 400 S model of the Countach was introduced, with a downgraded engine at 350 hp but with some incredible fiberglass wheel arch extensions on the outside of the car. Not only that, an optional rear wing was added, which despite reducing the car's top speed, was hugely popular and increased the appeal of the car.
One of the most recognizable versions of the Countach though surely has to be the LP5000 Quattrovalvole. This insane edition of the Countach was powered by a 5.2-liter V12 engine, and this created a hump on the cars' engine cover which pretty much eliminated any rear visibility that the car had. The power output was 414 hp, and it was certainly one of the most striking iterations of the car, and this then gave way to the 25th Anniversary edition of the Countach. This was perhaps the ultimate Countach, with a 0-60 of 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 183 mph. Countach's have now become incredibly desirable classic cars.
The New Countach
Whilst we don’t have the full details of the new Countach coming from Lamborghini, we have enough to have a general idea of what the car might be like, plus a teaser image of the car under wraps. The new car is expected to share the powertrain of Lamborghini’s Sian hybrid, with the power output roughly in the 800 hp range. The new car will come back as the Countach LPI 800-4, and will also be a hybrid and all-wheel drive affair like the Sian with the car expected to be shown off at Monterey Car Week 2021. The styling will be more refined and straighter-edged compared to the original car, but hopefully, it has more than a nod to the original supercar.
The Right Thing To Do?
Whenever we hear about a comeback model for a car, we have to ask if it is actually the right thing to do. The issue with bringing a car back from the past, so to speak, means that you are in danger of ruining the legacy of the original car and damaging how it is seen in the eyes of car enthusiasts. But with the Countach, the time does feel right, and Lamborghini hasn’t lost their magic touch in recent years. They still know how to make a great supercar, as well as great hypercars. We wait with bated breath to see the new Countach in all its glory, and soon we will know if it was a mistake, or genius call, to bring the car back.
Sources: Car Scoops, Moose Gear, Lamborghini, Car Throttle, Ultimate Car Page, Reddit