Lamborghini revives Countach name for stunning tribute car

Automobili Lamborghini has unveiled the Countach LPI 800-4: A futuristic limited edition that pays homage to the classic Countach.

Its puristic lines are immediately recognisably from the Countach.

The Countach LPI 800-4 sports an outline that is pure and uncluttered, with references to the first LP 500 and LP 400 production version. Inspiration for the front meanwhile, was taken from the Quattrovalvole edition. This results in assertive lines of the front bonnet with a long, low rectangular grille and head lights, as well as in the wheel arches with their hexagonal theme.

The sharp inclination of the greenhouse adopts the straight lines redolent of the original Countach, adjoining the powerful, clean front-to-rear line. There is no fixed rear wing outside the pure lines, and the airscoops are integrated fluidly in the strong shoulders of the car, embellished with the distinctive Countach slatted 'gills'.

The iconic and aerodynamically powerful NACA air intakes cut into the side and doors of the Countach LPI 800-4 while the distinctive Periscopio lines running through the roof to the rear of the car, particularly distinctive if viewed from above, appear to float towards the rear of the car.

The rear of the Countach LPI 800-4 is immediately recognisable from its distinctive inverted wedge shape, with the rear bumper featuring a lower, sleeker line, and the 'hexagonita' design shaping the three-unit rear light clusters. The LPI 800-4 sports the four-strong exhaust tail pipes of the Countach family, connected within the carbon fibre rear diffuser. Access for driver and passenger is of course via the infamous scissor doors, first introduced on the Countach and that have become a Lamborghini V12 signature.

The V12 engine of the Countach is as legendary as the design. Mounted longways at the rear together with its forward-cabin layout, the original Countach featured side-mounted radiators from Formula One, and a forward-facing gearbox and tubular spaceframe technology.

It was as revolutionary in its approach to sports car engineering as in its astonishing looks, with its engine position chosen for weight distribution and balance and of course, the aspirated twelve cylinders delivering the most emotive top performance.

The Countach developed the best available technologies to produce an extraordinary car, and this visionary philosophy is reflected in the Countach LPI 800-4, taking the pinnacle of current Lamborghini technologies and engineering to produce the performance expected from a Countach in 2021.

The Lamborghini V12 6.5-litre engine, with an output of 803bhp, is combined with a 48V electric motor mounted directly on the gearbox providing a further 34bhp for immediate response and increased performance. The e-motor is powered by a supercapacitor providing three times more power compared to a lithium-ion battery of the same weight.

The monocoque chassis and all the body panels are in carbon fibre, provide the optimum lightweight solution as well as exceptional torsional stiffness. The Countach LPI 800-4 has a dry weight of 1,595kg. Visible exterior carbon fibre features are available in the front splitter, around the front window and wing mirrors, engine bonnet cover air intakes and rocker panel and it is always present in specific interior details.

Moveable air vents produced by the state-of-the-art 3D printing technology, and a photocromatic roof - changing from solid to transparent at the push of a button - act as a reminder that this car, despite its historic inspiration, is a future automotive screensaver for the 21^st century.

Produced in a run of 112 units, the number denotes the 'LP 112' internal project name used during the original Lamborghini Countach's development. The Countach LPI 800-4 will be delivered from first quarter 2022 to owners worldwide.